12 September 2014 A.D. (BBC) Rev. Dr. Iain Paisley Passes

12 September 2014 A.D.  (BBC) Rev. Dr. Iain Paisley Passes

No author. “Former First Minister and DUP leader Ian Paisley has died.”  14 Sept 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-29177705.   Accessed 14 Sept 2014.

BBC Northern Ireland Political Reporter Stephen Walker looks back at the life of Ian Paisley

Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley, has died aged 88.

In a statement, Baroness Eileen Paisley said her husband died on Friday morning.

Mr Paisley moved from a political "never man" to Northern Ireland's first minister.

He ended up leading a power-sharing executive at Stormont - although he had supported the strike to bring one down 30 years earlier.

In her statement, Baroness Paisley said: "Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family, we are heartbroken," she said.

"We loved him and he adored us, and our earthly lives are forever changed."

Baroness Paisley said that his funeral would be private.

Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness became first and deputy first ministers

 

Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin, who was his deputy first minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he had learned of the death with deep regret and sadness.

 

"Over a number of decades we were political opponents and held very different views on many, many issues but the one thing we were absolutely united on was the principle that our people were better able to govern themselves than any British government," he said.

 

"I want to pay tribute to and comment on the work he did in the latter days of his political life in building agreement and leading unionism into a new accommodation with republicans and nationalists.

Ian Paisley pictured outside Stormont in 1969

 

"In the brief period that we worked together in the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, I developed a close working relationship with him which developed into a friendship, which despite our many differences lasted beyond his term in office."

First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said that during the height of the Troubles, the "sure and certain ring" of Ian Paisley's voice had a "special resonance" with the people of Northern Ireland.

"I don't think that there's anyone who has had more influence in Northern Ireland over the years," Mr Robinson said.

"Even those who thought the least of his politics thought the most of him as a person."