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| 'Sinner' Paisley considers legacy | 'Sinner' Paisley considers legacy |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's first minister Ian Paisley has been explaining his decision to step down from the post. | Northern Ireland's first minister Ian Paisley has been explaining his decision to step down from the post. |
| In an interview for the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, the 81-year-old said he was no longer a young man and had other ambitions to pursue beyond politics. | In an interview for the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, the 81-year-old said he was no longer a young man and had other ambitions to pursue beyond politics. |
| He talked about his legacy and said he had never shaken hands with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness because it would have been a "farce". | He talked about his legacy and said he had never shaken hands with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness because it would have been a "farce". |
| "I am a sinner, saved by the grace of God," said Mr Paisley. | "I am a sinner, saved by the grace of God," said Mr Paisley. |
| With his trademark honesty, he told Andrew Marr: "I have my faults, which are many, which I lament. I want to do the best for my country. | With his trademark honesty, he told Andrew Marr: "I have my faults, which are many, which I lament. I want to do the best for my country. |
| "And I want to say that I believe that when I helped to get a settlement for the Northern Ireland situation, I was only a helper. I mean I don't deserve all the praise". | "And I want to say that I believe that when I helped to get a settlement for the Northern Ireland situation, I was only a helper. I mean I don't deserve all the praise". |
| Direct rule | Direct rule |
| Mr Paisley announced last Tuesday that he would stand down as first minister and DUP leader in May. He has been leader of the DUP for almost 40 years. | Mr Paisley announced last Tuesday that he would stand down as first minister and DUP leader in May. He has been leader of the DUP for almost 40 years. |
| He became first minister in May 2007 following the suspension of direct rule after five years. | He became first minister in May 2007 following the suspension of direct rule after five years. |
| There has been much speculation as to whether he was pushed into resigning. | There has been much speculation as to whether he was pushed into resigning. |
| It had been said that senior party members were unhappy about the appointment of his son, Ian Paisley Jnr, to the Policing Board. | It had been said that senior party members were unhappy about the appointment of his son, Ian Paisley Jnr, to the Policing Board. |
| Last month, Mr Paisley Jnr resigned as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. | Last month, Mr Paisley Jnr resigned as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. |
| His resignation followed criticism over his links to a developer and controversy over lobbying activity. | His resignation followed criticism over his links to a developer and controversy over lobbying activity. |
| Peter Robinson, the current finance minister, is viewed as the clear favourite to take over as the new leader of the DUP. | Peter Robinson, the current finance minister, is viewed as the clear favourite to take over as the new leader of the DUP. |
| The full interview can be heard on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC One, Sunday 9 March between 0900 and 1000 GMT. |