DUP LEADER Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has paid tribute to the firebrand pastor whose controversial remarks about Islam were defended by one of his predecessors.
Pastor James McConnell, founder of the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Newtownabbey, died at the end of last week aged 84.
The high-profile evangelical preacher had been receiving end-of-life care at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Pastor David Purse announced on the church's Facebook page on Saturday morning that it was with "profound sadness and indescribable pain" that Mr McConnell had died after seven weeks in hospital.
"To say that we will miss him and are going to miss him is a massive understatement," he said.
He said the thoughts and prayers of the church were with Pastor McConnell's wife Margaret and his daughters, Linda and Julie.
Pastor McConnell came to prominence in 2014 when he described Islam "heathen" and "satanic" during a church sermon which was widely shared online.
He was questioned by police and was later found not guilty of making grossly offensive remarks against Islam, after a trial at Belfast Magistrates' Court which garnered worldwide attention.
His remarks were defended to the The Irish News by the then DUP leader Peter Robinson, who was a regular attendee at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle.
The then first minister said it was a duty of any preacher to denounce what he described as "false prophesy".
He said he would not trust Muslims either, particularly with regard to those who had been involved in violence, or those who are "fully devoted to Sharia law, I wouldn't trust them for spiritual guidance".
Mr Robinson said however he would trust Muslims to "go down to the shops" for him or to deal with a number of other "day to day issues".
Mr Robinson later publicly apologised for offence caused to Muslims following comments he made in defence of the pastor.
Speaking at the time from the Islamic Centre in Belfast following a meeting with Muslim leaders, Mr Robinson said he had made a "face-to-face, man-to-man" apology.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he was saddened by the pastor's death.
"Pastor James McConnell touched lives around the world," he said.
"Bringing the good news of the gospel and leading a ministry which personified the parable of the Good Samaritan.
"My sympathies to his family and friends who will feel his passing most dearly."
Mr McConnell was born in east Belfast and began his ministry at 17, first pastoring at a church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne before returning to his home city.
In his biography, he recalled how he spurned offers to become a professional footballer, turning down an approach from legendary Newcastle United striker Jackie Milburn to sign for Linfield because he was determined to be a preacher.
