Ian Paisley has died

Paddypowered · 12-09-2014 01:55PM

Pity he took so long to expire....good riddance....

Saint Sonner · 12-09-2014 02:02PM

A lot of Republicans and to a lesser extent loyalists have been prosecuted and come to terms with what they did in the time of the troubles when they took life for varying reasons, including those now in power!

I am of the opinion that Paisley would be leading the numbers on being responsible for most deaths in the conflict - all be it in a sneakier way.

Glad to see him join Thatcher!

PS Although it was good of him to croak it on a Friday - At least we can all go out and have a few jars!!!!

BMJD · 12-09-2014 02:04PM

Can people please stop condemning the man to hell as it is offensive to Satanists.
Thanks 666

Timberrrrrrrr · 12-09-2014 02:04PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQLQ1Rc_Js

Some of the more vocal AH posters right about now :rolleyes:

_Kaiser_ · 12-09-2014 02:05PM

Given this is AH I think the hatred is kinda funny given most of the people posting wouldn't have even been alive during the worst of the Troubles

Paisley in his day did embody the worst of the Unionist agenda, but let's not pretend that there weren't similar figures on the other side of the conflict as well. However in later life he was able to change enough to not only support but apparently embrace the peace process and former enemies and had he not done so the border posts and troops on the street of those dark days could still be a reality.

Pity some of the posters here can't move on in the same manner - even more ironic given the whole Republican/Catholic idea of forgiveness and that people can change.

Stinicker · 12-09-2014 02:07PM

Thatcher and Paisley gone within a year of each other and Scotland within days about to break up their beloved United Kingdom.

He is no loss for people of peace on this our island of Ireland.

dx22 · 12-09-2014 02:07PM

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam

munsterlegend · 12-09-2014 02:08PM

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

Hah, exactly. Totally all it is.

I'm not celebrating or full of glee or filled with hate - and I certainly have no issue with unionists who are normal people, and I detest the IRA... I'm only disputing the bollocks about him being an ok fella when he was anything but.

People seem to feel obliged to say such nonsense in order to show how distanced they are from republicanism, but it's not necessary. All I can conclude is that they're not aware of the extent of his bigotry - which would have been towards them if they were living in the North.

No doubt they're the same people who are obsessed with typing "shinnerbot " and going on about how the other side were as bad for bigotry, when even Kevin Myers would flatly disagree.

Totally agree. Just because you do a complete u-turn doesn't mean all your actions can be brushed aside. Paisley had the power through his oratory and presence to lead people and chose to use it for most of life to divide people as opposed to try and make peace.

twinytwo · 12-09-2014 02:08PM

At least now thatcher will have some company in hell.

Timberrrrrrrr · 12-09-2014 02:09PM

Stinicker wrote: »

Thatcher and Paisley gone within a year of each other and Scotland within days about to break up their beloved United Kingdom.

He is no loss for people of peace on this our island of Ireland.

http://news.sky.com/story/1334372/new-poll-gives-no-small-lead-in-scotland-vote#

A YouGov poll finds 52% plan to vote No and 48% Yes, on a day when several heavyweights express concerns about independence.

Hopefully this wont spoil your weekend

Coat22 · 12-09-2014 02:10PM

Always thought this would be a happier day

Few pints of Devils Buttermilk might helkp though

Shakespeare's Sister · 12-09-2014 02:10PM

Oh look, a "the other side were as bad" sophisticated comment. But this thread isn't... about the other side?
People can condemn his atrocious bigotry if they want. Beats "ah shur we'll get over it" grovelling any day. :rolleyes:
Criticism of him does not mean not wanting peace.

I'd bet the "let's move on" brigade would not say the same about a hate-filled republican, and i wouldn't expect people to either.

12-09-2014 02:10PM

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Given this is AH I think the hatred is kinda funny given most of the people posting wouldn't have even been alive during the worst of the Troubles

And? My dad was and had to move south of the border.

Paisley in his day did embody the worst of the Unionist agenda, but let's not pretend that there weren't similar figures on the other side of the conflict as well. However in later life he was able to change enough to not only support but apparently embrace the peace process and former enemies and had he not done so the border posts and troops on the street of those dark days could still be a reality.

I'm not fan of the Catholic church but I don't think they quite kept up with Paisley's fire and brimstone and riot instigating.

Pity some of the posters here can't move on in the same manner - even more ironic given the whole Republican/Catholic idea of forgiveness and that people can change.

"Republican/Catholic"? Little bit of a conflation of two very different things there.

Donkey Oaty · 12-09-2014 02:11PM

Just looking at the reports from around Europe, it's interesting how they see him in languages other than English.

France's Libération has him as an enlightenment figure:

Le révérend Ian Paisley, figure historique du protestantisme radical

Spain's El Mundo makes him sound like a Columbian drug-dealer:

Ian Paisley, también conocido como "el reverendo"...

And Germany's Die Welt has him as a

Protestantenführer

12-09-2014 02:12PM

Not intending to sidetrack things too much but a quick look at which "side" is mainly carrying out the racist and xenophobic attacks in Belfast and elsewhere shows the difference in the "sides". One side was held back and sought equality, the other was taught and taught to fear and repress everyone who wasn't like them.

Lenin Skynard · 12-09-2014 02:15PM

Protestantenführer

That's gas. Very appropriate.

Tony EH · 12-09-2014 02:19PM

Absolutely no loss whatsoever.

A hateful bigot that had far too many years on the planet.

The world is a better place without him, or his like.

stefan idiot jones · 12-09-2014 02:22PM

whisky_galore wrote: »

In before obligatory infractions and bannings.

Proddies, great bunch of lads.

Valetta · 12-09-2014 02:23PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Absolutely no loss whatsoever.

A hateful bigot that had far too many years on the planet.

The world is a better place without him, or his like.

Bloody hell! That was quick.

12-09-2014 02:23PM

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

That's gas. Very appropriate.

Ha, NazInception!

bur · 12-09-2014 02:25PM

Good night, sweet Prince.

iDave · 12-09-2014 02:27PM

The sad thing is the loyalist community will mourn his loss and view him as a lost saint. Expect a wave of sentiment and even more in your face triumphalism for the next few days with them drapping themselves in Union flags.

J Cheever Loophole · 12-09-2014 02:28PM

The passing of a fellow Armagh City man.

A number of years ago he was said to have had a Road to Damascus experience whilst critically ill, and it seems to have been prompted by his reflections on what his legacy might be - to put it in simple terms, he did not want to be remembered as Dr No, and came out of the illness wanting to be remembered for something more positive. This was what ultimately led to peace in the North and for that peace, I am eternally grateful - to this day I will not forget how stunned I felt when I saw him and Gerry Adams sitting side-by-side.

However at this time, it is of course right that his legacy in turn will be considered in detail, and I don't think it is enough to consider the latter years and the peace process as his completed legacy. What he signed up to in the peace process was essentially what he had overthrown in 1974 via the Ulster Workers Council strike, i.e. the Sunningdale Agreement.

Back in 1974 he was outraged that Unionists were considering sharing power with the Nationalist / Catholics of the SDLP, and brought it down through force. And with Sunningdale down, the power vacuum was always going to be filled in one way - violence, lots of it - throw in inflammatry speeches and you have many lives lost, untold injuries, communities wrecked and over a generation of civil strife. He was responsible for a lot of that - more than most. That must be part of his legacy.

Some 25 years later he signed up to power sharing, not with the SDLP, but with the Republican movement - that great day unfortunately came too late for many people.

I'm not one for celebrating anyone's death, but today I'm thinking of the many who should be here and are not.

GAAman · 12-09-2014 02:29PM

Times like this you can only hope there is a hell, him and that hatchet faced cow thatcher shovelling coal there brings quite a smile to my face.

Mind you their final days dribbling and wearing nappies covered in their own excretions also brings a smile too.

ghostdancer · 12-09-2014 02:30PM

another homophobic bigot dead.
**** him, and his equally bigoted wife and son.

McGrath5 · 12-09-2014 02:32PM

con___manx1 wrote: »

learn your history and then come back and tell me to chill. he was a hateful man and supposedly a reverent. thats a cantroduction right there spreading hate. As a man with great influence in nothern Ireland that is the one thing he should have been trying too prevent not escalate. 1969 was the height of the troubles incase you didnt no.

I fully aware of the history of this island, and I am fully aware this man has quite a colored and questionable past.

However, he did in the end help the peace process to move forward, and that is something that cannot be taken away from him.

Mad4simmental · 12-09-2014 02:33PM

**** him

Karl Stein · 12-09-2014 02:33PM

The moral equivocators arrive in their flaccid attempts to condemn 'both sides' equally, how boring. The 'other side' had no Paisleys.

Paisley never wanted to share power with the pesky Taigs - he saw the writing on the wall politically and saw his end approaching and decided to capitalise. Paisley's only concern was Paisley.

In one of his last interviews on power sharing he said 'I had no choice'.

The greatest scourge of the north is dead.

My condolences to his family.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to go on the tack.

12-09-2014 02:34PM

Karl Stein wrote: »

The moral equivocators arrive in their flaccid attempts to condemn 'both sides' equally, how boring. The 'other side' had no Paisleys.

Paisley never wanted to share power with the pesky Taigs he saw the writing on the wall politically and saw his end approaching and decided to capitalise. Paisley's only concern was Paisley.

In one of his last interviews on power sharing he said 'I had no choice'.

The scourge of the north is dead.

My condolences to his family.

That one scourge is dead.

ChicagoJoe · 12-09-2014 02:36PM

FF's Martin Mansergh on RTE News, barely finished his first sentence and Bertie Ahern and the Peace Process mentioned twice and his great outreach to Paisley etc. Typical FF, trying to grab some advantage for FF regardless.

Ian Paisley has died

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