Whilst the despicable SNP are trying to wrench Scotland from the greatest political union in the history of the world, a great Unionist has, rather ironically, today passed away.
The former Protestant preacher and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP, a party which campaigns for Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom), the Reverend Ian Paisley, has died at the age of 88.
In a tribute to Paisley's status as an unlikely leader of unification and reconciliation, his death was mourned by his former enemies, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness (the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland) as well as Sinn Fein's president Gerry Adams, who said he was 'shocked and saddened' by the news.
Others described him as a 'big man with a big heart', who despite his abrasive character and fiercely held views, will be remembered as a key figure in bringing peace.
Reverend Paisley's death, after a long period of illness, was announced today by his wife Eileen.
The former First Minister, known as Lord Bannside after joining the House of Lords in 2010, was leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 1971 until 2008.
He served as First Minister of Northern Ireland, with his former rival Martin McGuinness as his deputy, from 2007 to 2008, and was MP for North Antrim for 40 years.
'My beloved husband, Ian, entered his eternal rest this morning,' Mrs Paisley said in a statement. 'Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family we are heartbroken.
Paisley was a fierce critic of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which led to the formation of the first power-sharing administration at Stormont since 1974.
But in the aftermath of the signing of another political arrangement which became known as the St Andrews Agreement of 2006, he underwent an astonishing political transformation which culminated with him going into power with Sinn Fein a year later.
It was a deal which would have been unimaginable at the height of the IRA terrorist campaign, but this was a much different Ian Paisley from the firebrand preacher who spent decades on the margins of political power, damning the Catholic Church, and who was once thrown out of the European Parliament for denouncing Pope John Paul II as the anti-Christ.
Today, Reverend Paisley's former party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is the fourth-largest party inside the UK House of Commons, after the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats.
'I have lost a friend': Martin McGuinness pays tribute to former enemy Ian Paisley as Northern Ireland's firebrand preacher-politician dies aged 88
By Hugo Gye for MailOnline
12 September 2014
Daily Mail
Ian Paisley died this morning aged 88 - and the tributes were led by Martin McGuinness, once a fierce enemy of the firebrand preacher, who declared today: 'I have lost a friend.'
The former First Minister of Northern Ireland was renowned as a symbol of hard-line Unionism, but later in life was crucial in forging the peace process and bringing an end to conflict in the province.
In a tribute to Paisley's status as an unlikely leader of unification and reconciliation, his death was mourned by Mr McGuinness as well as Sinn Fein's president Gerry Adams, who said he was 'shocked and saddened' by the news.
Others described him as a 'big man with a big heart', who despite his abrasive character and fiercely held views will be remembered as a key figure in bringing peace.
Leader: The Reverend Dr Ian Paisley has died at the age of 88
Paisley's death, after a long period of illness, was announced today by his wife Eileen.
The former First Minister, known as Lord Bannside after joining the House of Lords in 2010, was leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 1971 until 2008.
He served as First Minister, with his former rival Martin McGuinness as his deputy, from 2007 to 2008, and was MP for North Antrim for 40 years.
'My beloved husband, Ian, entered his eternal rest this morning,' Mrs Paisley said in a statement. '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.'
She added that her husband's funeral would be held in private, but that a public memorial service to commemorate his life would take place later this year.
Reconciled: Paisley served as First Minister of Northern Ireland between 2007 and 2008 with his former enemy, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, (right) as his deputy
Tribute: Mr McGuinness described his former fierce rival as a 'friend' in a statement on Twitter
'According to Ian's wishes his funeral will be private and attended only by the immediate family, as will be his burial,' she said.
'As a family we appreciate that there will be an expectation by those who admired him to express their gratitude for his life and their sorrow at his passing.
'To that end we will in due course publish details of a public memorial service which, will be scheduled later in the year.'
Mr McGuinness expressed his sadness at Paisley's death, taking to Twitter to say: 'Once political opponents - I have lost a friend.'
In a statement, the Deputy First Minister added: '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.
'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.
'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.
'I want to send my sincere sympathy to his wife, Eileen, his children and extended family.'
The pair were for decades leaders of opposing sides in the Northern Irish debate, with Paisley the standard bearer for Protestant Unionists and Mr McGuinness a commander in the IRA - but the pair grew so close in office that they were known as the 'Chuckle Brothers'.
Gerry Adams, another leading figure in the Republican movement who is now the president of Sinn Fein, said today: 'I am shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Dr Ian Paisley.
'There will be plenty of time for political analysis but at this point I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Ian’s wife Eileen and to the Paisley family at this very sad time.'
Celebration: The DUP leader was committed to the United Kingdom - but often scathing of its political leaders
Paisley was one of the most extraordinary and divisive figures in the history of Northern Ireland.
Once a fierce critic of power-sharing with Republicans, he is best-known for his fighting spirit during the Troubles - in particular his 'no surrender' catchphrase.
However, over the years, the hardline unionist softened his attitude and ended up sharing office with his long-time enemy, Mr McGuinness, in August 2007.
Paisley stood down as first minister in 2008. He was replaced by his DUP deputy leader, Peter Robinson.
The current First Minister told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'He was a colossus in unionism and made such a massive contribution, particularly to the process in which we are presently involved.'
Tony Blair, who helped to persuade Paisley to sign up to a power-sharing deal with Sinn Fein in 2007, said that the preacher had gone from 'militant' to 'peacemaker'.
He said: 'Ian was a man of deep convictions. The convictions never changed. But his appreciation of the possibilities of peace, gradually and with much soul searching, did. He began as the militant. He ended as the peace-maker.
'He could be an uncompromising even intransigent opponent. But he was also someone who loved Northern Ireland and its people. He led them but he also followed them. When they said to him peace was thinkable, he made it possible.
'His religious beliefs were profound and genuine. He talked to me often about the need for forgiveness and I am sure part of what made him finally take the road to peace, was his capacity, driven by his Christian belief, to contemplate and then work for reconciliation.
'I don't suppose 40 years ago he would ever have thought that politically his life then would end as it does now. But I know he and Eileen would be very proud of his huge contribution to a peaceful future for Northern Ireland.'
Devoted: Paisley was married to his wife Eileen for nearly 58 years
Demonstration: Paisley outside Buckingham Palace in his days as leader of the hardline Unionists
Bertie Ahern, who worked with Paisley while serving as Taoiseach of Ireland, said that he had grown to appreciate the DUP leader's qualities.
'Ian was a big man,' he said. 'He had a big heart. In my younger days I found him a very difficult character but we ended up very good friends. He was a valuable character in the peace process.'
He also paid tribute to the way Paisley never wavered from his dedication to the peace process even after being rejected by many of his Unionist allies.
'I grew to admire him,' Mr Ahern said. 'The more I got to know him, the more I grew to like him.'
Former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain said: 'Ian Paisley was the Big Man of Northern Ireland politics.
The historic 2007 peace settlement bringing bitter lifetime enemies to govern jointly could never have happened without him.'
Ireland's current Taoiseach Enda Kenny predicted that Paisley would be remembered as a peacemaker rather than a firebrand.
'In time, history will come to a fuller judgment of his long career,' he said. 'And, while he was of course a divisive figure, his greatest legacy will be one of peace.'
John Hume, who as leader of the nationalist SDLP and often clashed with Paisley, said his death 'marks the end of an era'.
He added: 'I knew Ian Paisley well throughout our many years in politics and we enjoyed a close working relationship in the European Parliament,' said Mr Hume.
'During this time Mr Paisley was a larger than life character in Irish politics and a dominant voice within unionism.
'While he was not always constructive, and often politically challenging, he could, on a personal level, be very charming.
'History will record his political career as a journey - one which took him from the politics of division to a place where he accepted agreement as a solution, the need for power-sharing, and respect for diversity. But history will also ask if he should have reached this point sooner.'
Paisley was a fierce critic of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which led to the formation of the first power-sharing administration at Stormont since 1974.
But in the aftermath of the signing of another political arrangement which became known as the St Andrews Agreement of 2006, he underwent an astonishing political transformation which culminated with him going into power with Sinn Fein a year later.
It was a deal which would have been unimaginable at the height of the IRA terrorist campaign, but this was a much different Ian Paisley from the firebrand preacher who spent decades on the margins of political power, damning the Catholic Church, and who was once thrown out of the European Parliament for denouncing Pope John Paul II as the anti-Christ.
Read more: Northern Ireland's former leader Ian Paisley dies aged 88* | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The former Protestant preacher and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP, a party which campaigns for Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom), the Reverend Ian Paisley, has died at the age of 88.
Reverend Paisley was renowned as a symbol of hard-line Unionism, but later in life was crucial in forging the Northern Ireland peace process and bringing an end to conflict in the province.
In a tribute to Paisley's status as an unlikely leader of unification and reconciliation, his death was mourned by his former enemies, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness (the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland) as well as Sinn Fein's president Gerry Adams, who said he was 'shocked and saddened' by the news.
Others described him as a 'big man with a big heart', who despite his abrasive character and fiercely held views, will be remembered as a key figure in bringing peace.
Reverend Paisley's death, after a long period of illness, was announced today by his wife Eileen.
The former First Minister, known as Lord Bannside after joining the House of Lords in 2010, was leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 1971 until 2008.
He served as First Minister of Northern Ireland, with his former rival Martin McGuinness as his deputy, from 2007 to 2008, and was MP for North Antrim for 40 years.
'My beloved husband, Ian, entered his eternal rest this morning,' Mrs Paisley said in a statement. 'Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family we are heartbroken.
Paisley was a fierce critic of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which led to the formation of the first power-sharing administration at Stormont since 1974.
But in the aftermath of the signing of another political arrangement which became known as the St Andrews Agreement of 2006, he underwent an astonishing political transformation which culminated with him going into power with Sinn Fein a year later.
It was a deal which would have been unimaginable at the height of the IRA terrorist campaign, but this was a much different Ian Paisley from the firebrand preacher who spent decades on the margins of political power, damning the Catholic Church, and who was once thrown out of the European Parliament for denouncing Pope John Paul II as the anti-Christ.
Today, Reverend Paisley's former party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is the fourth-largest party inside the UK House of Commons, after the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats.
'I have lost a friend': Martin McGuinness pays tribute to former enemy Ian Paisley as Northern Ireland's firebrand preacher-politician dies aged 88
The Reverend Dr Ian Paisley died this morning after a long illness
He was leader of the DUP for 37 years and First Minister from 2007 to 2008
A hard-line Unionist who but became a symbol of reconciliation in later life
Former rival Martin McGuinness said 'I have lost a friend' while Gerry Adams declared himself 'shocked and saddened'
He went from 'militant to peacemaker', says Tony Blair
He was leader of the DUP for 37 years and First Minister from 2007 to 2008
A hard-line Unionist who but became a symbol of reconciliation in later life
Former rival Martin McGuinness said 'I have lost a friend' while Gerry Adams declared himself 'shocked and saddened'
He went from 'militant to peacemaker', says Tony Blair
By Hugo Gye for MailOnline
12 September 2014
Daily Mail
Ian Paisley died this morning aged 88 - and the tributes were led by Martin McGuinness, once a fierce enemy of the firebrand preacher, who declared today: 'I have lost a friend.'
The former First Minister of Northern Ireland was renowned as a symbol of hard-line Unionism, but later in life was crucial in forging the peace process and bringing an end to conflict in the province.
In a tribute to Paisley's status as an unlikely leader of unification and reconciliation, his death was mourned by Mr McGuinness as well as Sinn Fein's president Gerry Adams, who said he was 'shocked and saddened' by the news.
Others described him as a 'big man with a big heart', who despite his abrasive character and fiercely held views will be remembered as a key figure in bringing peace.
Leader: The Reverend Dr Ian Paisley has died at the age of 88
Paisley's death, after a long period of illness, was announced today by his wife Eileen.
The former First Minister, known as Lord Bannside after joining the House of Lords in 2010, was leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 1971 until 2008.
He served as First Minister, with his former rival Martin McGuinness as his deputy, from 2007 to 2008, and was MP for North Antrim for 40 years.
'My beloved husband, Ian, entered his eternal rest this morning,' Mrs Paisley said in a statement. '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.'
She added that her husband's funeral would be held in private, but that a public memorial service to commemorate his life would take place later this year.
Reconciled: Paisley served as First Minister of Northern Ireland between 2007 and 2008 with his former enemy, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, (right) as his deputy
Tribute: Mr McGuinness described his former fierce rival as a 'friend' in a statement on Twitter
'According to Ian's wishes his funeral will be private and attended only by the immediate family, as will be his burial,' she said.
'As a family we appreciate that there will be an expectation by those who admired him to express their gratitude for his life and their sorrow at his passing.
'To that end we will in due course publish details of a public memorial service which, will be scheduled later in the year.'
Mr McGuinness expressed his sadness at Paisley's death, taking to Twitter to say: 'Once political opponents - I have lost a friend.'
In a statement, the Deputy First Minister added: '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.
'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.
'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.
'I want to send my sincere sympathy to his wife, Eileen, his children and extended family.'
The pair were for decades leaders of opposing sides in the Northern Irish debate, with Paisley the standard bearer for Protestant Unionists and Mr McGuinness a commander in the IRA - but the pair grew so close in office that they were known as the 'Chuckle Brothers'.
Gerry Adams, another leading figure in the Republican movement who is now the president of Sinn Fein, said today: 'I am shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Dr Ian Paisley.
'There will be plenty of time for political analysis but at this point I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Ian’s wife Eileen and to the Paisley family at this very sad time.'
Celebration: The DUP leader was committed to the United Kingdom - but often scathing of its political leaders
Paisley was one of the most extraordinary and divisive figures in the history of Northern Ireland.
Once a fierce critic of power-sharing with Republicans, he is best-known for his fighting spirit during the Troubles - in particular his 'no surrender' catchphrase.
However, over the years, the hardline unionist softened his attitude and ended up sharing office with his long-time enemy, Mr McGuinness, in August 2007.
Paisley stood down as first minister in 2008. He was replaced by his DUP deputy leader, Peter Robinson.
The current First Minister told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'He was a colossus in unionism and made such a massive contribution, particularly to the process in which we are presently involved.'
Tony Blair, who helped to persuade Paisley to sign up to a power-sharing deal with Sinn Fein in 2007, said that the preacher had gone from 'militant' to 'peacemaker'.
He said: 'Ian was a man of deep convictions. The convictions never changed. But his appreciation of the possibilities of peace, gradually and with much soul searching, did. He began as the militant. He ended as the peace-maker.
'He could be an uncompromising even intransigent opponent. But he was also someone who loved Northern Ireland and its people. He led them but he also followed them. When they said to him peace was thinkable, he made it possible.
'His religious beliefs were profound and genuine. He talked to me often about the need for forgiveness and I am sure part of what made him finally take the road to peace, was his capacity, driven by his Christian belief, to contemplate and then work for reconciliation.
'I don't suppose 40 years ago he would ever have thought that politically his life then would end as it does now. But I know he and Eileen would be very proud of his huge contribution to a peaceful future for Northern Ireland.'
Devoted: Paisley was married to his wife Eileen for nearly 58 years
Demonstration: Paisley outside Buckingham Palace in his days as leader of the hardline Unionists
Bertie Ahern, who worked with Paisley while serving as Taoiseach of Ireland, said that he had grown to appreciate the DUP leader's qualities.
'Ian was a big man,' he said. 'He had a big heart. In my younger days I found him a very difficult character but we ended up very good friends. He was a valuable character in the peace process.'
He also paid tribute to the way Paisley never wavered from his dedication to the peace process even after being rejected by many of his Unionist allies.
'I grew to admire him,' Mr Ahern said. 'The more I got to know him, the more I grew to like him.'
Former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain said: 'Ian Paisley was the Big Man of Northern Ireland politics.
The historic 2007 peace settlement bringing bitter lifetime enemies to govern jointly could never have happened without him.'
Ireland's current Taoiseach Enda Kenny predicted that Paisley would be remembered as a peacemaker rather than a firebrand.
'In time, history will come to a fuller judgment of his long career,' he said. 'And, while he was of course a divisive figure, his greatest legacy will be one of peace.'
John Hume, who as leader of the nationalist SDLP and often clashed with Paisley, said his death 'marks the end of an era'.
He added: 'I knew Ian Paisley well throughout our many years in politics and we enjoyed a close working relationship in the European Parliament,' said Mr Hume.
'During this time Mr Paisley was a larger than life character in Irish politics and a dominant voice within unionism.
'While he was not always constructive, and often politically challenging, he could, on a personal level, be very charming.
'History will record his political career as a journey - one which took him from the politics of division to a place where he accepted agreement as a solution, the need for power-sharing, and respect for diversity. But history will also ask if he should have reached this point sooner.'
Paisley was a fierce critic of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which led to the formation of the first power-sharing administration at Stormont since 1974.
But in the aftermath of the signing of another political arrangement which became known as the St Andrews Agreement of 2006, he underwent an astonishing political transformation which culminated with him going into power with Sinn Fein a year later.
It was a deal which would have been unimaginable at the height of the IRA terrorist campaign, but this was a much different Ian Paisley from the firebrand preacher who spent decades on the margins of political power, damning the Catholic Church, and who was once thrown out of the European Parliament for denouncing Pope John Paul II as the anti-Christ.
Read more: Northern Ireland's former leader Ian Paisley dies aged 88* | Mail Online
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