Castlereagh Borough Council has confirmed its plans to initiate an investigation into the Iris Robinson affair.
The DUP’s under-pressure leader Peter Robinson has stepped down temporarily as First Minister over the scandal surrounding his wife Iris, who was revealed as having lobbied property developers for cash to set up a business for her teenage lover.
Last night it was confirmed that Mrs Robinson had resigned as an MP and it is understood her resignation has also been tendered at Stormont.
Mrs Robinson has also resigned from the local authority where representatives now want to investigate the circumstances of how her lover Kirk McCambley, aged 19 at the time of their relationship, was awarded the lease for the local Lock Keepers Inn.
A BBC Spotlight documentary also claimed Mrs Robinson failed to declare an interest in his application when the venture was discussed at council.
She secured £50,000 from two property developers to finance her lover's new restaurant on the banks of the river Lagan, south Belfast, but failed to disclose her involvement.
In the week since the documentary sparked the current scandal, Mrs Robinson was dumped from her party and resigned from her political roles of councillor, Assembly member and MP.
Her husband denies any personal wrongdoing over his wife's financial dealings but separate investigations are now under way at the council, at Stormont and at Westminster.
PA