Updated 5.5pm
AROUND 800 PEOPLE attended a memorial for DUP founder Dr Ian Paisley this afternoon.
Paisley died last month, but his funeral was a family-only affair.
Paisley’s widow Barroness Eileen Paisley spoke to the crowd at the Ulster Hall today at 3pm.
“Dad could certainly speak out. I think there were four words you’d never have heard, and that is ‘speak up, Ian Paisley’,” said his son Ian Paisley Jr during the memorial.
He described his father as a gospel preacher who “spoke plainly” and made sure he was understood.
A full list of guests was not officially released, but the North’s First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness as well as former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern were expected to attend.
Paisley died last month age 88.
Paisley served as First Minister in the Stormont executive between 2007 and 2008, founded the Democratic Unionist Party in 1971 and held on to his leadership role for almost four decades — eventually stepping down to allow current First Minister Peter Robinson take over.
The service was broadcast live on RTÉ and BBC.
- Additional reporting Aoife Barry
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