'Peter should think about divorcing Iris'

A YOUNG Newtownabbey man who was at the centre of the row over Iris Robinson's controversial views on homosexuality has urged First Minister Peter Robinson to "think very, very carefully about his marriage."

A vicious homophobic attack on Stephen Scott near his Ballyduff home in 2008 was condemned by the then DUP Member of Parliament for Strangford on a live radio phone-in. However, she sparked a massive political storm by branding homosexuality "an abomination" and suggesting that gay and lesbian people could be "turned" to heterosexuality with psychiatric help.

Last month Mrs Robinson announced that she would be retiring from public life after admitting that she was battling severe mental illness. A matter of days later a BBC Spotlight programme revealed that she had had an affair with a 19-year-old man, and had borrowed 50,000 from two developers to set her young lover up in a cafe business.

Speaking to the Times this week, Stephen Scott revealed how he moved out of Ballyduff shortly after the attack 18 months ago amid fears for his safety.

"Iris Robinson's remarks sort of forced me into the media eye and suddenly I was all over the papers and the TV.

"I got a lot of hassle after that. People were slabbering at me, calling me queer and even pulling their trousers down and flashing at me. People were shouting very, very nasty comments at me like calling me a paedophile and things like that. Just because you're gay doesn't make you a bad person like that. It was all very hurtful," he said.

While admitting that he no longer votes for any political party, Stephen has voiced his support for under-fire DUP leader Peter Robinson and has urged him to think about divorcing his troubled wife.

For full story check out this week's Newtownabbey Times...