Ian Paisley (1926 – 2014) was a British churchman and politician deeply involved in the cause in Northern Ireland. This reverend has worked and continues to work for the Protestant cause in the midst of the Northern Irish conflict. A look back at his role in Northern Ireland.
Ian Paisley founded the Free Presbyterian Church in 1950, a Protestant church designed to counterbalance the Catholic presence in Northern Ireland. He soon set up his own newspaper, the “Protestant Telegraph”, where he published daily articles and religious texts.
He didn’t enter politics until much later, in the late 70s, when he founded the Democratic Unionist Party (UDP), a party that soon became one of the most important political organizations in Northern Ireland. Ian Paisley soon became a senior UDP leader, advocating his deep disagreement with the Catholics, as well as the Good Friday Agreement. Some of his claims are particularly violent, and many of his murderous prahes:“I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way” or“I’d rather be British than fair“.
Many Irish people nicknamed him “Doctor No”, because of his systematic refusal to negotiate with Catholics and their political representatives.
From 1979, he was elected to the European Parliament until 1999, when he decided to stand in the British elections of May 2005, which he won by 54.8%.
2006 was a pivotal year: the DUP and Sinn Féin won the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, and Ian Paisley, like Gerry Adams, was pressured by the British to find common ground. The two began negotiations for the creation of a government that would bring together Catholics and Protestants alike, to administer the northern territorial communities. This agreement was validated on March 26, 2007, and Ian Paisley was immediately appointed First Minister of Northern Ireland, while Martin McGuinness, a member of Sinn Féin, was appointed Deputy First Minister.
Ian Paisley held this position until March 4, 2008, when he resigned as Prime Minister and leader of the UDP.
He died in September 2014, aged 88.
Scottish Government - 
