Former leader of the Alliance Party John Cushnahan has expressed surprise at the reaction by politicians and commentators to the death of Ian Paisley.

Mr Cushnahan – who also represented Munster as an MEP for 15 years – said yesterday Mr Paisley's ultimate embracing of power-sharing in Northern Ireland could not make up for "his wrecking of peace initiatives over the previous five decades".

“I am astonished at the collective amnesia that continues to be displayed by many politicians and political commentators on the political legacy of Ian Paisley, which has led to the rewriting of history.

“His dramatic conversion to peacemaking at the very end of his career does not provide redemption for his wrecking of peace initiatives over the previous five decades . . .

“While I welcome the fact that he ultimately embraced power-sharing, it was too little too late and should not be used to excuse or excise from history the real legacy of pain and suffering that he inflicted on the people of Northern Ireland for the majority of his political life.

“His political career was punctuated with nakedly sectarian acts and deeds and the destruction of many political initiatives and moderate leaders of unionism who were engaged in genuine attempts to bring peace and stability to the province. His actions prolonged the conflict and it is arguable he was a major contributor to starting the conflict.

“When as DUP leader he agreed to establish a power-sharing executive with Sinn Féin they were merely re-establishing what had already been in place several decades before – the 1974 power-sharing executive.”