A DUP MLA has spoken candidly about the break-up of her first marriage and the “incredible hurt” she caused her family.
South Antrim representative Pam Cameron (46) broke up with first husband Ian Lewis in 2011 – four days after her first face-to-face meeting with the man who would later become her second husband.
The former Antrim mayor has also confessed that she "doesn't have a problem with gay marriage", even though her party vehemently opposes the introduction legislation to let same sex couples wed.
The mother-of-three refuted suggestions that she had an extra marital affair prior to ending her 20-year marriage but revealed that her two eldest children initially shunned her after she left to live with former senior civil servant Michael Cameron, who she married in 2013.
"My world turned upside down on June 9 2011 when I met Michael," she told the Belfast Telegraph.
"That led to a very traumatic period of my life – the worst and the best days."
Mrs Cameron said she was married "too young" at age 19.
"My first marriage was my children – that's what my whole life consisted of," she said.
"Leaving was never a consideration because of my Christian upbringing, but then Michael came along."
The DUP MLA said she left the Free Presbyterian Church at the time her first marriage ended.
On same sex marriage, she said: "Personally, I don't have an issue with gay marriage but I represent a party that does and I respect that and more importantly, the voters.
"I have really good gay friends – one couple believes in gay marriage and the other doesn't. We are not afforded a free vote on conscience issues in our party but I absolutely believe in party strength and I'm prepared to go with the majority."
