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Funeral service will be for family members only

ASSEMBLY members will come together at Stormont on Monday to pay tribute to Ian Paisley before business is suspended as a mark of respect.

Speaker William Hay will then lead colleagues in signing a book of condolence which will be opened in the Great Hall.

Derry City Council will today also open a book of condolence, while Belfast City Council will follow suit at the city hall at 9am on Monday.

Lisburn has also opened books at several council sites.

Preparations are meanwhile underway for a private funeral service for the former DUP leader.

While there had been calls from some quarters for a full state service for the 88-year-old, his widow Eileen confirmed that as per her husband's wishes "his funeral will be private and attended only by the immediate family, as will be his burial".

However, Mrs Paisley said there were also plans for a memorial service "later in the year", although no details were released.

The great-grandmother had announced her husband's death around lunchtime yesterday.

She said Mr Paisley had "entered his eternal rest this morning".

"Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family we are heartbroken," she said.

"We loved him and he adored us, and our earthly lives are forever changed."

She added: "As a family we appreciate that there will be an expectation by those who admired him to express their gratitude for his life and their sorrow at his passing.

"To that end we will in due course publish details of a public memorial service which will be scheduled later in the year.

"There will be no further comment or statements made by me or the family at this time."

The funeral will take place at Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church on the Ravenhill Road in east Belfast.

In January 2012, 2,500 people attended a farewell service at the church to mark Mr Paisley's retirement.

He founded the Free Presbyterian Church in 1951 and was pastor at the Martyrs Memorial Church and Church moderator for more than 50 years.

* MEMORIAL: Baroness Paisley

* SERMON: Ian Paisley at the Martyrs Memorial church on the Ravenhill Road in east Belfast after delivering his final sermon