FAMILY and close friends of the former Northern Ireland Unionist politician, the Reverend Ian Paisley, have attended his funeral as tributes were paid to him by leading politicians at the Stormont Parliament.
Mr Paisley, who died on Friday aged 88, was buried after a short ceremony, at Ballygowan Free Presbyterian church cemetery in County Down.
Only close family members attended as the service at home and the burial was private.
Business at the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended for the day and was replaced by a special sitting which saw tributes from politicians. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness urged politicians to rise to the challenge of securing peace and a better future for Northern Ireland.
Mr McGuinness said: "The peace process has lost a great friend and I have lost a friend. We all have to rise to the occasion. This is about peace making, it's about building a better future."
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