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| Ian Paisley: Private funeral for former DUP leader | Ian Paisley: Private funeral for former DUP leader |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The funeral of Ian Paisley, the former Democratic Unionist Party leader and first minister of Northern Ireland, has taken place. | The funeral of Ian Paisley, the former Democratic Unionist Party leader and first minister of Northern Ireland, has taken place. |
| He was buried in County Down, following a private funeral service at his family home in east Belfast. | He was buried in County Down, following a private funeral service at his family home in east Belfast. |
| A lone piper led a handful of close family mourners at the graveyard at Ballygowan Free Presbyterian Church. | |
| His son, Ian Jnr, helped carry his coffin a few metres from the hearse into a tent that covered the grave. | |
| Mr Paisley, who stepped down from politics in 2008, passed away on Friday, aged 88. | Mr Paisley, who stepped down from politics in 2008, passed away on Friday, aged 88. |
| As a mark of respect, Northern Ireland Assembly business has been suspended as MLAs pay tributes in the chamber. | As a mark of respect, Northern Ireland Assembly business has been suspended as MLAs pay tributes in the chamber. |
| His successor as first minister and DUP leader, Peter Robinson, told MLAs: "Ian Paisley was a remarkable man, whose long career in public life has left an indelible mark upon all of us who knew him. | His successor as first minister and DUP leader, Peter Robinson, told MLAs: "Ian Paisley was a remarkable man, whose long career in public life has left an indelible mark upon all of us who knew him. |
| "Like so many , I was drawn towards politics by the clarity, the certainty, the strength and the conviction of his message." | "Like so many , I was drawn towards politics by the clarity, the certainty, the strength and the conviction of his message." |
| The first minister said Mr Paisley had "taken his place in the chronicles of Ulster history, alongside the greats of unionism". | The first minister said Mr Paisley had "taken his place in the chronicles of Ulster history, alongside the greats of unionism". |
| 'Exceptional' | 'Exceptional' |
| Mr Robinson added that since his death, politics seemed "a little less colourful and exciting". | Mr Robinson added that since his death, politics seemed "a little less colourful and exciting". |
| "Ulster will never see the like of him again, he was an exceptional human being," he said. | "Ulster will never see the like of him again, he was an exceptional human being," he said. |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told the assembly that sharing power with Mr Paisley during his first year in office was an "incredible experience" and one of the "most memorable" of his life. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told the assembly that sharing power with Mr Paisley during his first year in office was an "incredible experience" and one of the "most memorable" of his life. |
| The Sinn Féin MLA said that as a teenager, he remembered being "in fear" of Mr Paisley, because of his "huge stature, his booming voice, his politics that we didn't share or like". | The Sinn Féin MLA said that as a teenager, he remembered being "in fear" of Mr Paisley, because of his "huge stature, his booming voice, his politics that we didn't share or like". |
| 'Great friend' | 'Great friend' |
| However, he said that after they went into government together they "genuinely grew to like each other and in doing so, we confounded the world". | However, he said that after they went into government together they "genuinely grew to like each other and in doing so, we confounded the world". |
| Mr McGuinness said: "From the word go, for some reason, we hit it off. Not alone did we develop a positive and constructive working relationship, we actually became friends." | Mr McGuinness said: "From the word go, for some reason, we hit it off. Not alone did we develop a positive and constructive working relationship, we actually became friends." |
| He added that both he and the Northern Ireland peace process had "lost a great friend" as a result of Mr Paisley's death. | He added that both he and the Northern Ireland peace process had "lost a great friend" as a result of Mr Paisley's death. |
| After the tributes, MLAs will sign a book of condolence in Stormont's Great Hall - members of the public are also invited to do so. | After the tributes, MLAs will sign a book of condolence in Stormont's Great Hall - members of the public are also invited to do so. |
| A book of condolence opened at Belfast City Hall on Monday, where the union flag is flying at half-mast. | A book of condolence opened at Belfast City Hall on Monday, where the union flag is flying at half-mast. |
| A spokeswoman for Belfast City Council said the flag had been displayed under the College of Arms policy. | A spokeswoman for Belfast City Council said the flag had been displayed under the College of Arms policy. |
| Mark of respect | Mark of respect |
| The policy states the flag should fly at half-mast to mark the the funerals of first ministers and ex-first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | The policy states the flag should fly at half-mast to mark the the funerals of first ministers and ex-first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| All DUP constituency offices will be closed on Monday, as a mark of respect to its founder and former leader. | All DUP constituency offices will be closed on Monday, as a mark of respect to its founder and former leader. |
| Several books of condolence for Mr Paisley were opened in towns and cities in Northern Ireland on Saturday. | Several books of condolence for Mr Paisley were opened in towns and cities in Northern Ireland on Saturday. |
| Mr Paisley moved from a political "never man" to Northern Ireland's first minister. | 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. | He ended up leading a power-sharing executive at Stormont - although he had supported the strike to bring one down 30 years earlier. |
| Mr Paisley was a founder of the Free Presbyterian Church in 1951 after a split with the Presbyterian Church - he resigned as as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church in 2008. | Mr Paisley was a founder of the Free Presbyterian Church in 1951 after a split with the Presbyterian Church - he resigned as as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church in 2008. |
| In 2011, he told the congregation at Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in south Belfast that he was stepping down from ministry. | In 2011, he told the congregation at Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in south Belfast that he was stepping down from ministry. |