Paisley ‘schizophrenic’ on Northern Ireland

Ian Paisley was described as a schizophrenic ready to adopt the IRA’s “Brits out” mantra if he did not get his way on Northern Ireland politics, state papers claim.

According to a report marked secret and released under the 30-year rule, secretary of state for Northern Ireland James Prior believed the Democratic Unionists were less prone to splits and division because of the leader’s domination.

Prior was reportedly angered after being targeted by DUP figures in a Derry city hotel. His hardline views were recorded in Department of Foreign Affairs files following a meeting with Peter Barry, the minister for foreign affairs, at Hillsborough on Oct 19 1983.