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4 | NEWS www.sundaylife.co.uk Sunday Life 31 JANUARY 2010 KIRK THE KIRK BREAKS Iris’s young ex-lover tells of torrid time over scandal LOOKING FORWARD: Kirk and Rebecca <strong>EXCLUSIVE</strong> CIARAN BARNES THE TOYBOY lover of shamed MP Iris Robinson has broken his silence to reveal the truth behind the affair that shocked the world and almost collapsed the Northern Ireland Executive. Speaking exclusively to Sunday Life, Kirk McCambley, 21, revealed that: n he has been questioned by cops investigating Iris's financial dealings; n he is still with 18-year-old girlfriend Rebecca McGrath and said they are madly in love; n he turned down a £100,000 offer from a woman's magazine for a kissand-tell story as well as £25,000 from a national newspaper; and n he was counselled by whistle-blower Selwyn Black in the weeks after his dad's death. “I just want to get on with my life and put all this behind me,” said Kirk, who was yesterday back behind the counter of the Lock Keeper's Inn in south Belfast — the cafe Iris Robinson funded with £50,000 from developers Fred Fraser and Ken Campbell. “I went to London last week to escape the publicity. I spent my time there with my sister Dawn, she lives there. “It was a nice relaxing week but I'm back now and I want to move on. I'm just going to keep the head down.” Kirk said he was shocked by the publicity surrounding his affair with Iris, news of her suicide attempt and her resignation from public office. While he is now back at work there has still been no sign of 61-year-old Iris. Her DUP leader husband Peter has said she is receiving “acute psychiatric treatment”. Her ex-lover, who was 40 years younger than her when they had an affair in the summer of 2008, still refuses to speak about the intimate details of their relationship but did go on the record to clear up business details. He told me: “It's been madness. The worst thing though is all the crap that has been written about me in the last few weeks. “I want to make it clear that the money I was given was an informal LOVE RAT: Iris Robinson loan from Iris. There were no written contracts or anything like that. “All I was thinking about was getting the business up and running. Where the money came from never really entered my head. “I spent the money on kitchen equipment, furniture for the cafe and on joinery work to do the place up,” explained Kirk. “The Council gave me the cafe rent free for the first couple of months after I opened, but that is standard practice for any new business. “The council also paid for stuff like the sink, a shelving unit and a stainless-steel bench. “The money for every- BETRAYED: Peter Robinson thing else came out of my own pocket.” Kirk admitted that he has been questioned by police about the financial arrangements which led to him receiving £50,000 from the two developers arranged by Iris. He insists he did nothing wrong. Ken Campbell has said that the £25,000 he gave was an interest free loan to Mr McCambley while the family of the late Fred Fraser has said his contribution was “a donation” to him at the request of former Strangford MP Iris Robinson. The two-faced politician resigned after it was revealed she demanded a
31 JANUARY 2010 Sunday Life www.sundaylife.co.uk NEWS | 5 REAL STORY HIS SILENCE SUPPORT: Selwyn Black consoled Kirk DISGRACED: Iris Robinson WHAT A SCOOP: Our man Barnes gets the story UP AND RUNNING: Iris Robinson alerted Kirk to the opportunity at the Lock Keeper’s Inn TOYBOY: I AM UP TO RUNNING THIS CAFE CIARAN BARNES KIRK McCAMBLEY last night insisted he is more than qualified to run the Lock Keeper’s Inn cafe. Questions have been asked as to why Castlereagh Borough Council awarded the lease to the then 19-year-old. Kirk was alerted to the business opportunity by ex-lover Iris Robinson — who at the time was a member of the Council. “I hate the way people think that the only reason I got the lease is because of Iris,” he said. “I am more than qualified to run the business. “I worked in my dad’s butcher’s shop (above) for years. “When I was 16-years-old I was running the place myself. “I’ve worked in three restaurants and was a manager in two of them. “Being in business is all I have known since I was little. “I am more than qualified to run the Lock Keeper’s.” BUSINESS SAVVY: Cafe owner Kirk McCambley £5,000 kick-back from Kirk after handing him the cash. Police have launched an investigation into her financial dealings. “Yes, I have been questioned by the police,” said Kirk. “But the bottom line is I have IN LOVE: Kirk and Rebecca done nothing wrong. I've broken no rules. Everything with the business is above board. I am in no trouble at all.” Although frank about his business dealing, Kirk remains coy about his private life. He refuses to talk about his trysts with Iris and the romps they had in the bed she shares with DUP leader husband Peter Robinson. However he did confirm that he is still with student girlfriend Rebecca McGrath. “Rebecca and I are still together and very happy, I am very much in love,” said Kirk. “There has been a load of crap written about me and I could have taken legal action, but I didn't, because I just want to be left alone to get on with my life. What happened is in the past.” SELWYN HELPED ME AFTER MY FATHER’S DEATH TURN TO PAGES 6&7
Page 1: £1.20 (RoI €2.00) 31 January 201
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