Strangford MP Jim Shannon has expressed his deep sorrow after learning of the passing of Dr Ian Paisley (88).
He explained to Down News: “My mind is full of all the reasons that I and many others had such a deep affection for Dr Paisley. Dr Paisley is the reason that I joined the DUP, and he was one of my boyhood heroes throughout my school years. Dr Paisley stood fiercely and strongly for his principles and when I could, I joined the party, impressed by him and what he stood for.
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International embassador: Dr Ian Paisley, left, chats to Irish President Michael[/caption]
“I joined enthusiastically, and travelled all over Northern Ireland attending his rallies and listening to what he had to say. I can recall when I was Mayor of Ards in 1991-2, he phoned me up and said ‘you haven’t invited me down to the Town Hall in Ards’ – I asked him when suited, he said Saturday and that was that. Dr Paisley arrived, signed the Visitors Book and for one hour he sat and told stories to my wife Sandra, Councillor John Purdy, and myself.  He had us in kinks of laughter and again, his personality shone through.
“I can recall almost 12 years ago to the day when I attended a meeting of the DUP Assembly Group just after my brother Keith had been involved in a motor-bike accident and was in a coma, fighting for his life. Dr Paisley stopped the meeting, inquired about Keith, and after I told him the situation, he prayed for Keith then and there, and even visited him when he was in recovery in Newtownards. That was the Dr Paisley that I knew, one who was always concerned and interested in others and always had time for you.
“I was there when he won each of his MEP elections, most notably the getting the biggest vote that an MEP has ever had in 1984 with 230, 251 votes. My office has a handful of photos of Dr Paisley and his election victories, it also has a cartoon sketch of Dr Paisley in his youthful days and a lovely picture of Dr Paisley and Eileen and myself. Can we ever forget the day that Lady Mairi Bury invited Dr Paisley and Eileen to Mount Stewart for coffee, they were like old friends exchanging stories and gifts.
“Dr Paisley was the leader of the DUP and we were all so proud to be able to call him our First Minister. But alongside the political aspect of his life was his deep relationship with God, his first love was for the Lord and secondly was his family and to the people of Northern Ireland, there is no doubt that it was Dr Ian Paisley who shaped the Northern Ireland Assembly. He preached the Gospel and often reminded us all of the most important thing, ‘ye must be born again.’
“There are so many stories that I could tell of his humour on the canvas trail, the meal that my mother made for him after a DUP meeting in the Lower Ards, his quiet words of encouragement especially when I was privileged to be elected to Westminster – those private spoken words will be remembered by myself and my family forever.
“We send our deepest sympathies to his wife Eileen, his daughter and son and to his grandchildren and wider family circle. Although it is difficult not to, I know that we should not suffer any sorrow because today we know that Dr Paisley is at peace in Heaven. Dr Paisley said ‘If you vote down Democracy, then you are responsible for bringing in Anarchy’, and this sums up the legacy that Dr Paisley created for us in Northern Ireland… a brighter and safer future for the next generation.
“I salute Dr Paisley, former leader of the DUP, MP for 40 years, MEP for 20 years, statesman, leader and a dear friend to so many, we sorrow in his passing but we rejoice in what he did in his 88 years on this earth.”
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