Belfast lawyer Paul Tweed of Johnsons Solicitors has secured an apology and damages from Metro for former First Minister Peter Robinson.

In a statement, the newspaper said: “On 9 June, we wrongly reported that Peter Robinson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party had been an active member of a terror group, the Ulster Resistance.

“Mr Robinson has neither been a member of a terror group, nor supported terrorism. We apologise to Mr Robinson for our error and any embarrassment caused.”

Commenting on the apology, Mr Tweed said: “My client, the former NI First Minister Peter Robinson, has secured a comprehensive apology from the publishers of Metro magazine.

“He acknowledges, as part of an overall settlement, this categoric retraction of an outrageous allegation that should never have been published in the first place.”