Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Dr Ian Paisley has died, his wife Eileen said today.

He was 88.

His death comes six years after he stepped down as Northern Ireland's first minister in 2008.

He ended 60 years of full-time ministry in January 2012.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Ian Paisley before Local Council Elections where he announced his Smash Sinn Fein Campaign Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson at a press conference with their 'Ulster Says No' poster Ian Paisley holds up a sign as he denounces the Pope John Paul II's speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in October 1988 Reuters Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness in the famous 'Chuckle Brothers' photograph at Stormount Ian Paisley and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Mr Ahern holds a three hundred year-old musket during their visit to the historic Battle of the Boyne site in Co Meath Ian Paisley alongside his wife Eileen being interviewed by Pat Kenny on the Late Late Show / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ian Paisley before Local Council Elections where he announced his Smash Sinn Fein Campaign

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The veteran unionist and fundamentalist Protestant preacher was a colossus of Northern Ireland politics.

He was an MP for North Antrim and a divisive figure at a time when an armed conflict that killed thousands was at its worst. Mr Paisley established the DUP in 1971 and opposed every attempt by successive British and Irish governments to create a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

But in a dramatic change of heart after the St Andrews agreement in 2006, he indicated that the DUP would share power with its former enemies in Sinn Fein.

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Mr Paisley was treated for a heart condition last year and has been taken into the Ulster Hospital, near Belfast.

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In February 2012, the 87-year-old spent a week on a life-support machine suffering from heart failure. He later returned to public life after recovering.

His wife Eileen paid a glowing tribute to her late husband.

"My beloved husband, Ian, entered his eternal rest this morning.

"Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family we are heartbroken.

Expand Close Democratic Unionist Party leader Dr Ian Paisley, who has died, his wife Eileen said today. Photo credit: Cathal McNaughton/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Democratic Unionist Party leader Dr Ian Paisley, who has died, his wife Eileen said today. Photo credit: Cathal McNaughton/PA Wire

"We loved him and he adored us, and our earthly lives are forever changed."

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"According to Ian's wishes his funeral will be private and attended only by the immediate family, as will be his burial.

"As a family we appreciate that there will be an expectation by those who admired him to express their gratitude for his life and their sorrow at his passing.

"To that end we will in due course publish details of a public memorial service which, will be scheduled later in the year.

"There will be no further comment or statements made by me or the family at this time."

There is a sense of shock at the Sinn Fein 'think in' today following the passing of the former DUP leader.

Martin McGuinness said: "I developed a close working relationship with him which developed into a friendship"

“I’m very said to hear that Ian Paisley has died and I want extend my deepest sympathy to his wife Eileen and his family.

“Obviously he and I were once opponents, and decided alongside both of our parties, to into government together in 2007

“Once Ian decided to do that, he threw himself heart and soul into it.

“We had a good positive working relationship and a friendship grew out of it. A friendship that lasted to this very day so this is a very sad day for me. I have lost a very good friend”, he told Radio One.

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“His death was not expected and it will obviously cause great pain,” Northern Irish politician Jeffrey Donaldson said.

“He was a towering figure in politics. Clearly he was part of the transformation in Northern Ireland himself, he underwent a transformative journey too,” he told Newstalk this afternoon.

“There will be a sense of loss in Northern Ireland.

“I think most people on the island of Ireland tend to look for the good in other people and I think history will tell Paisley as someone who overcame various divisions in the North to help bring people together.

“He was so popular in his constituency, it didn’t matter if you were Catholic or Protestant.”

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also offered his sympathy to the Paisley family.

"I'm sure there will be time for plenty of political analysis of his career and his part in our history and his involvement over a very long time but now today it is sufficient to recognise he will be a huge loss to his wife Eileen and his children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren," he said.

"They have lost a husband, a father, a grandfather and great grandfather.

I would just like to on my own behalf and on behalf of Sinn Fein extend my sympathy to the Paisley family."

In a statement issued this afternoon Taoiseach Enda Kenny, he called him a ‘major figure’ in the history of these islands.

“I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to him in recent years, and I know that he treasured the pace and friendship that he had lived to see, and helped to build, between our traditions.”

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Irish Independent