North whistle blower has Cavan connection

As the North reverberates from revelations in the BBC Spotlight programme centred on Iris Robinson, MP, wife of the First Minister, Peter Robinson, it has emerged that Mr. Selwyn Black who was interviewed extensively in the programme is a native of Cavan. Selwyn Black, a clergyman, is a former chaplain with the RAF and worked on the staff of Iris Robinson for two years ,until he quit his post. During the programme, he revealed his unhappiness when made aware of Mrs. Robinson's involvement in a business project with a young man named Kirk McCambley, which developed into a brief love affair between the MP and Mr. McCambley. During the programme, Mr. Black made the comment "Where is God in all of this?" when expressing his unhappiness over what was taking place. Iris Robinson is ill at present and her husband, Peter, has stepped down from his duties as First Minister for a six-week period in order to deal with family issues. It will also give time for a senior counsel called in at his request to give an independent view in relation to his own actions during the period. The First Minister has firmly denied any impropriety on his part. Ms Arlene Foster, from Fermanagh, one of the prominent DUP Ministers in the Executive, will take over the duties of Mr. Robinson during his absence. Selwyn Black is son of the late Griffith Black, who owned a butcher shop at Bridge Street, Cavan, for several decades. The family are from Gartbratten just outside the town, where they also owned a farm. Griffith's father, Randall Black, was a prominent cattle dealer in this area while his sister, Bula, owned the County Hotel, which was located at the top of Connolly Street, Cavan. The young Selwyn Black and other members of his family went to the old Farnham school in Cavan and he has been a regular visitor to his native heath over the years. The late Griffith Black and his family moved to the North in 1962 due to Griffith's involvement in the meat business there. The Black family subsequently developed a successful retail grocery and meats business in Lisburn, which they still own and manage. The late Griffith Black passed away two years ago and his wife Margaret survives him, as do his sons and daughters. One of Cavan town's leading businessmen, Phil Donohoe, served his time and worked for more than 20 years with Mr. Black in his butcher shop at Bridge Street. He succeeded Mr. Black to the business when the latter moved to the North in the early 1960s, later expanding the business into the major supermarket and butchery it is today. Over the years Mr. Donohoe retained a close friendship with the late Griffith Black and his family whom he describes as being very fine people. Griffith Black's wife, nee McMillan, from Dundonald, outside Belfast, has a brother who won the World Ploughing Championships for three years in a row, indicating a close relationship with agriculture on both sides of the family. The BBC Spotlight programme has created a swirl of excitement in Northern politics, which has been bedevilled by a stand-off between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein over the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont. Mr. Robinson indicated that during the forthcoming six weeks he will be engaged in negotiations on the transfer of policing and justice. There is an air of uncertainty as to whether that transfer can take place given that some of the DUP membership seemed opposed to it. Sinn Fein is adamant that the time for delay is over and the collapse of the Executive cannot be ruled out if a deal is not reached.