Former NI First Minister Ian Paisley dies aged 88

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

The former Northern Ireland First Minister and a prominent church leader Reverend Ian Paisley dies on Friday morning at the age of 88.

The office of the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny has confirmed the death, without any further details. 

A statement from his wife Baroness Eileen Paisley says: “Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family, we are heartbroken.

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

Mrs Paisley has also told that the funeral would be held in private. However, a public memorial service will  also be arranged.

Ian Paisley – the dominant Protestant politician of the Northern Ireland Troubles and the former leader of the Democratic Unionist party (DUP), was born in 1926 and become a man of peace in 2005 after DUP emerged as Northern Ireland’s largest party. After relenting for years, Mr Paisley finally agreed to go into government with Sinn Féin in 2007. He was the province’s first minister in 2007 and 2008.

Prime Minister David Cameron has paid tribute to “most forceful and instantly recognisable characters in British politics for nearly half a century” telling he will be remembered as the ‘Big Man’ of Northern Irish politics.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has also described Dr Ian Paisley as a “man of deep convictions as “he began as the militant. He ended as the peace-maker.”

Mr Blair has also praised Dr Paisley’s “huge contribution” to build “a peaceful future for Northern Ireland.”

Article viewed on Oye! Times at www.oyetimes.com.