Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson has long been seen as the driving force behind the DUP’s move from obscure extremists to, well, mainstream extremists. He was at the forefront of campaigns agains the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA) and the Good Friday Agreement (GFA).

However, perhaps uniquely among his DUP leadership peers, he has what one could describe as an all-Ireland record for criminality. He has been convicted of crimes in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Yet this is the man leading the self-righteous campaign to exclude Sinn Féin from government on account of its criminality, thus continuing British Remote-Control Direct Misrule from Westminster.

On El Blogador I have regularly called for the IRA’s criminal activity to end, but it is almost comical that the DUP try to take the moral highground when it comes to the exclusion of Sinn Féin from the Executive. People in glass houses should not throw stones.

Robinson was elected to the House of Commons in 1979, even managing to outpoll what most would have seen an an extremist incumbent Vanguard MP. He was re-elected in 1983, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2005. making him the longest serving MP for any Belfast constituency since the Act of Union in 1800.

However, Peter Robinson’s period as MP for East Belfast has not been solely marked by dignified statesmanship or example-setting for his constituents.

Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, on 7th August 1986 Robinson led an invasion of 500 loyalists into the village of Clontibret, County Monaghan, in the south of Ireland. The loyalists entered the Garda station in the village and physically assaulted two Garda officers, and then held a quasi-military drill in the square. Robinson was later arrested. He pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly and was fined IR£17,500 at Drogheda Court. Since then he has been known in some quarters as Peter Punt, on account of the fact that he bought his way out of having to serve jail time by forking out the 17 grand to the ‘enemy’ southern government. As a result of this charade, Robinson briefly resigned from the deputy leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party. Of course, he later returned to this role.

However, Robinson’s arrest in Monaghan didn’t deter him from flirting with loyalist paramilitarism, as he also took up a role in Ulster Resistance when it was formed in November 1986 as an alternative means to organise opposition to the AIA.

And this is the man who keeps a straight face when he condemns Sinn Féin’s links with the IRA. I also condemn Sinn Féin’s links with the IRA, but then I was never photographed parading round in a red beret and military fatigues. What is even more hilarious was Robinson’s speech at the DUP’s 2004 conference when he stated: “You’ll remember the photograph of Gerry with his dark glasses, black gloves and beret.” Yeah, Peter, we all remember that- but we also remember you in a similar get-up, or have you conveniently forgotten that? At least when it comes to fashion, Peter and Gerry have something in common.

Of course, it is unfair to dredge up Peter’s past by referring to his conviction in the south and his dalliances with Ulster Resistance… So let’s look at a more recent run-in with the law. Just two years ago, Pete was convicted again, this time in the northern courts. He was found guilty of obstructing a public road while he was the Stormont minister responsible for roads! Robinson and his DUP buddie Ruth Patterson were both found guilty of obstructing the Albertbridge Road in September 2002. Ironically, Ruth Patterson was later made High Sheriff of Belfast. It’s gets more like the Wild West by the day. The Magistrate found the defendants guilty but gave both an absolute discharge.

What I would like to know is, what is Peter Robinson’s definition of a ‘criminal’? In 1981 he published a book about how IRA hunger strikers were criminals- I don’t think it made it onto any bestseller lists- by virtue of the fact that they were convicted in court of crimes. Does he therefore consider himself a criminal (although like many Sinn Féin members his convictions are spent), as he too has been convicted in court for breaching the law? If so, does that not seriously undermine his opposition to entering government with Sinn Féin on account of his belief that they are allied to, or even are, criminals? I would imagine his conviction in 2004 is a lot fresher than those of the Sinn Féiners with whom he would be most likely sharing power.

Outside of politics, Peter has many other interests. He enjoys golfing and bowling and also breeds Japanese Koi fish. Rather bizarrely, the leisure centre in his fiefdom of Castlereagh has been named ‘The Robinson Centre’ in his honour. Peter also believes that the ultimate penalty of hanging people by the neck until dead should be reinstated. It isn’t clear whether he thinks this should apply to loyalist killers.

Peter also went through an image change in the mid-1990s, in line with the DUP’s image change around the same time. Gone were the shapeless hair and large glasses, and in came a middle-parted bouffant and rimless specs. He really looked quite the fellow.

Only time will tell whether the leadership of the DUP will pass from Paisley to Punt, or whether there will be some Ulster resistance among rural DUPers to this move...












Before and after...