Paisley plans protest over Pope's visit

FORMER Northern Ireland First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, is coming to Edinburgh to protest against the Pope's visit.

The Protestant preacher and a group of around 60 people from his Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster will hold a service in the Magdalen Chapel in the Cowgate.

Mr Paisley, now Lord Bannside, said the protest would be peaceful and would see a banner unfurled and having a public meeting outside.

He said: "What we're doing, we're making a legitimate protest about something that is entirely wrong and I am looking at myself as a person who is prepared to champion those who have been very badly treated by these priests of Rome."

Meanwhile, Cardinal Keith O'Brien claimed the cost of the Pope's visit would be outweighed by the moral benefits.