McGuinness asks politicians to rise to North challenge

Martin McGuinness has urged politicians to rise to the challenge of securing peace and a better future for Northern Ireland following Ian Paisley’s death.

The Stormont Deputy First Minister joined Democratic Unionist First Minister Peter Robinson in paying tribute to a man praised for his commitment to attaining lasting stability.

In 2007, Dr Paisley ended decades of virulent opposition to compromise withrepublicanism by taking power as DUP first minister at the devolved assembly alongside Mr McGuinness, a former IRA commander and senior Sinn Féin member.

Political parties from all sides offered heartfelt thoughts of the churchmanand politician’s legacy at a special Stormont sitting while the family held aprivate funeral in Belfast.

Mr McGuinness said: “I do believe the peace process has lost a great friend, and I have lost a friend.

“We all have to rise to the occasion, this is about peace making, it’s about building a better future for our young people.”

Mr Robinson said Dr Paisley was the undisputed leader of unionism.

“Ulster will never see the like of him again. He was an exceptional human being.

“He had a loyal heart, afidelity to freedom, a passion for democracy and a love for public service. In the storm he was oak and granite and in the sunshine he radiated passion and commitment.

“He no longer sits among us but we are entrusted with his legacy and we are stirred by his injunction to finish the course and secure lasting peace and stability for the land he loved so much.”

Dr Paisley died last Friday at the age of 88.

His family held a private service at their home on Cyprus Avenue in Belfastyesterday morning before burial in Ballygowan, Co Down.

A lone piper led the way a few metres from the hearse to the grave beside Ballygowan Free Presbyterian Church. Dr Paisley’s successor as North Antrim MP,his son Ian Jnr, carried the coffin.

A public memorial service will be held later in the year, the family has said.

Books of condolence were opened yesterday in the City Hall in Belfast and also at Stormont.

The former first minister and former unionist leader was a firebrand fundamentalist Protestant preacher and polarising figure whose vehement opposition to dealing with the IRA and extreme anti-Catholic rhetoric was legendary.

The bellicose symbol of unionist defiance was famous for bellowing “never,never, never, never” during a mass protest against Irish Government involvement in Northern Ireland affairs in the 1980s. He helped wreck earlier attempts at political accord, became the ultimate protest figure and promised to smash Sinn Féin.

But, in a potent symbol of the ground covered by political negotiations whichlargely ended violence, he entered government with republicans in 2007 asStormont’s first ministerafter republicans lent their support to the police.

Eventually his partnership with Mr McGuinness at the head of government led to them being dubbed the Chuckle Brothers.

Mr McGuinness said his professional relationship and friendship with Mr Paisley— the source of much irritation in some sections of unionism and republicanism — should provide food for thought with the Stormont Executive dogged by political stalemate.

“In rising above old enmities we pointed the way to a better and peaceful future.”

Mr Robinson added: “Those of us who knew him best will remember the fun and joy it was to be in his company, but today we close the page on a long and glorious era and already politics seems a little less colourful and exciting.

“Ian has taken his place in the chronicles of Ulster history alongside the greats of unionism, making our heritage even richer.

“As a leader of men, a friend of the people, a servant of the state and the undisputed leader of unionism, Ian Paisley outclassed all around him,” he said.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams signed the book of condolence at Belfast’s CityHall. He said: “Many families who suffered the worst excesses of sectarianism maytake issue with this, but Ian Paisley is due recognition for reaching agreementwith Irish republicans on a peaceful future for all of our people and for the way he fulfilled his role as first minister, alongside Martin McGuinness.