Foster's ‘Distress' At False Media Rumours

DUP leader tells high court of upset over ‘affair’ tweet by celebrity doctor

- Rebecca Black

Arlene Foster yesterday described the “distressing” impact a tweet of an unsubstantiated rumour by a celebrity doctor had on her and her family.

A libel hearing at the High Court in Belfast heard how Dr Christian Jessen tweeted on December 23, 2019, that the North’s First Minister had had an affair.

The DUP leader told the court it came at a particularly stressful time when she was involved in talks to resurrect the power-sharing government at Stormont.

Mrs Foster said: “I think the attack on me personally and my marriage was meant to destabilise me at a very critical time.

“It was meant to destabilise me and thereby destabilise the negotiations as well. I have no proof of that but I just think the timing of it is very significant.”