Paisley is released from hospital

Ian Paisley, one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent political figures, has been discharged from hospital having been treated for a serious heart condition for nearly a month.

His wife said yesterday the 85-year-old former Northern Ireland First Minister, whose unlikely alliance with his bitter Catholic rivals helped belatedly to cement Northern Ireland’s peace process, was admitted to intensive care on 5 February.

Eileen Paisley released a statement thanking the public for their support and requesting that her husband be given time and space to recuperate.