A new book by BBC Northern Ireland broadcaster Mark Carruthers includes a fascinating interview with the former DUP leader Dr Ian Paisley.
A new book has revealed the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland, reminding all sides in the peace process of the need to maintain it in the face of difficulties around the ongoing Hass review on the flying of flags and protests and tensions over the scrapping of the Maze peace centre.
BBC Northern Ireland broadcaster Mark Carruthers last night launched a book on Ulster identity. The book, entitled Alternative Ulsters: Who Do We Think We Are?, includes interviews with, among others, the former DUP Leader Dr Ian Paisley (now Lord Barnside), who makes clear how much progress he feels that Sinn Fein has made.
Asked about his decision to enter into government with Martin McGuinnes in 2007, Paisley, who, in 1985 pledged to ‘smash’ Sinn Fein, told Carruthers, “Aye. Well, Martin did what I wanted him to. I never had any trouble with him.” He continued:
“He may be a Sinn Feiner but he’s a different Sinn Feiner from the old Sinn Fein. I mean, you’ll hear his statements condemning [someone] who was shot. You’d never have had that [before]… we must give them credit for where they are. I mean, they have come a long way.”
Asked about his views on Gerry Adams, however, Paisley was less conciliatory, telling the book:
“Well, I wouldn’t be so sure about Adams. Adams, I don’t think, has the power within the party today. I think the other man is the leader of the party.”
Asked whether he still wanted to smash Sinn Fein, he said: “No”.
The book launch came on the day that Aung San Suu Kyi visited Northern Ireland to establish what could be learnt from the peace process in achieving reconciliation between bitter rivals. Speaking during a visit to Wellington College in Belfast, she explained:
“The main reason I have come to Northern Ireland is to learn about how you managed to negotiate a peace process in spite of all the difficulties.
“It is very useful, what we have learned here I think will help us a great deal back in Burma.
“I want to see from you how you see your present day problems because I am told the work is not done.”
6 Responses to “Gerry Adams ‘no longer has the power’ in Sinn Fein, says Paisley”
Guest
Who is interested in what this man has to say, he was just as bad if not worse than any of those who caused the war & war it was.
eireanne
completely agree Guest.Ian Paisley really was an evil influence on so many people over so much time from the late 1950s onwards. He is however retired now and hopefully his voice is silenced, except through his heir Peter Robinson is current First Minister of Northern Ireland and, as his U turn on the Long kesh/maze funding showed, is not prepared to face up to the extremists among his followers.
I hope people will read the posts on eurofree3.wordpress.com and understand the power of the Loyal Orders must be broken (as English administrators and intellectuals have been saying since the early 19th century onwards) before we can see some way forward in Northern Ireland.
gunterprien
Britain OUT of Ireland.
swatnan
There’s no doubt that McGuiness is the a politician than Adams.
NI should be seen as the model for reconciliation in the world. But how long will that reconciliation last as long as sectarian schools still exist. Not long, iI would say.
swatnan
…. should have read (‘ …. is the better politician than Adams. And a lot better than Paisley.)