State papers suggest Ian Paisley was more moderate than it seemed

Outwardly, Ian Paisley was vehemently against the Anglo-Irish Agreement, but state papers hint at a different attitude behind the scenes, writes Ryle Dwyer

Ian Paisley seemed to lead the vocal campaign against the Anglo-Irish Agreement in Northern Ireland, but state papers just released hint strongly of a somewhat different attitude behind the scenes, although he could hardly have been more acerbic in his public pronouncements.

During a sermon in his church, for instance, he denounced Margaret Thatcher in trenchant terms. “O God,” he said, “we pray this night that Thou wouldst deal with the Prime Minister of our country. O God in wrath take vengeance upon this wicked, treacherous, lying woman.”