The Rev Ian Paisley of old was back in operation yesterday after his recent hospital stay, threatening to sue "Romanist" journalists, criticising the Catholic Primate, and warning the republican movement that unless the IRA went out of business there was no hope of a political deal.
He characterised the IRA as "rubbish" that must be cleared away before the DUP will talk to Sinn Féin or sign up to a deal with republicans.
Dr Paisley, who led a DUP delegation in separate talks with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, at Stormont yesterday, repudiated some recent newspaper reports suggesting that he was gravely ill.
He made it abundantly clear that he intends to head the DUP team at the crucial Leeds Castle talks in England in the middle of this month, which will be chaired by the Taoiseach Mr Ahern and British Prime Minister Mr Blair.
It was obvious yesterday however that the DUP leader did not fill out his dark suit the way he once did. But, while his physical presence certainly is much diminished, it was equally obvious that his vocal combative spirit is as fierce as ever.
"Look at me, look at me," he said aggressively when one reporter queried him about his health. "I hope to take a few thousands of pounds off some newspapers who lied about me. And I would say it is just because I happen to be a Protestant and journalists happen to be Romanists that they think they can take it out on me," he added.
"I am supposed to be recuperating in a foreign country!" Dr Paisley expostulated, apparently referring to one of the reports.
"I am here. This is Stormont, and I will be here. And you fellows can rave as much as you like, but you, maybe, will be in your coffins before I will be in mine."
After meeting Mr Murphy yesterday morning he said: "The first thing I laid on the table that there was one issue that has to be dealt with at these talks, and that is getting Sinn Féin either into the talks or the disbanding of their weaponry and the end of IRA/Sinn Féin as a political party. We have made that absolutely clear, and we don't want any hedging. Everything else depends on that."
Dr Paisley said that other essential matters necessary to restore devolution could not be "discussed properly until we know that the rubbish has been removed. So we are certainly saying to him, clear the site".
Referring to recent statements by the Catholic Primate Archbishop Seán Brady he added: "I read his speech very carefully. He said he wants respect from us. Well, I want to say on behalf of dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of Roman Catholic people, who are my constituents, it is time that he respected his own congregation."
"Look at the Roman Catholic Church and the state of it with the paedophile priests crisis, and then to tell me to have respect for the church when the people of the church don't even respect it."
