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Ian Paisley has died Former First Minister and DUP leader Ian Paisley has died
(34 minutes later)
Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Dr Ian Paisley, 88, has died, his wife Eileen said. Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley, has died aged 88.
In a statement, Baroness Paisley said her "beloved husband" had "entered his eternal rest" on Friday morning. In a statement, Baroness Eileen Paisley said her husband died on Friday morning.
"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." 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.Baroness Paisley said that his funeral would be private.
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.
"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."