Ian Paisley funeral will be private

The funeral of the Rev Ian Paisley will be held in private, Baroness Eileen Paisley said yesterday.

Baroness Paisley said her "beloved husband", the former first minister, DUP leader and moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church which he founded in 1951, had "entered his eternal rest" yesterday morning.

Dr Paisley, latterly Lord Bannside, who has been one of the most prominent and frequently divisive figures in Irish life for more than 40 years, had been in frail health in recent months and his family were prepared for his death.

Dr Paisley is survived by his wife Eileen, whom he first met in 1950 and married almost 58 years ago in October 1956, and by their five children – the North Antrim MP Ian Paisley Jr, the artist and former politician Rhonda Paisley, the Rev Kyle Paisley and Sharon and Cherith.

“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,” said Baroness Paisley.

Huge support Dr Paisley commanded huge support among unionists over his long career, always topping the poll when contesting European Parliament elections and always being returned to Westminster and the Assembly in his North Antrim constituency.

There was some surprise that such an outspoken and gregarious politician should decide to have a private funeral, but that was his decision, said Baroness Paisley. “His funeral will be private and attended only by the immediate family, as will be his burial.”

Towering figure Baroness Paisley, however, acknowledged that many people would want to pay their final respects to one of the most towering figures in unionism.

“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,” she said.

“To that end, we will in due course publish details of a public memorial service which will be scheduled later in the year. There will be no further comment or statements made by me or the family at this time.”

Dr Paisley was born the son of a Baptist preacher in Armagh in April 1926, preaching his first sermon at the age of 16, and on St Patrick’s Day in 1951 founding the Free Presbyterian Church.

It wasn't until the early 1960s that he became prominent in public life, with denunciations of republicanism and of the Catholic Church.

Westminster MP He was elected Stormont MP for Bannside in a byelection in April 1970 and that June was returned as Westminster MP for North Antrim in 1970, a seat he held until May 2010 when he was replaced in the election of that year by his son Ian. He was a member of the Northern Assembly from 1998 to 2011.

He was a member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2004. In March 2007, following a historic meeting at Stormont with Gerry Adams, he agreed to share power with Sinn Féin and the other main Northern parties.

First Minister He took up office as first minister in May 2007, with Martin McGuinness, a former IRA leader, in the post of deputy first minister. He stood down as first minister and DUP leader in 2008, Peter Robinson succeeding him in both posts.

Books of condolence are being opened today at Mossley Mill in Newtownabbey by the DUP mayor of Newtownabbey, Thomas Hogg, and on Monday morning at Belfast City Hall by the SDLP lord mayor, Nichola Mallon.