JUST A FAMILY AFFAIR!
Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 07:59PM 
Last week I attended the press launch of David Gordon’s new book “The Fall of the House of Paisley.”
I finished reading it a few nights ago and thought I might share a few thoughts on it with you.
First of all, I think it provides an invaluable chronology of the disintegration of what once seemed an indestructible political dynasty – brand Paisley. I don’t think the book has too many new revelations but what it does to is bind together the many revelations over the past few years which have seen off the Paisley hegemony. This is invaluable.
I was very impressed with the style as well as the content of the book, David Gordon instantly wins my approval by giving his first a distinct musical reference as in “Welcome to the House of Fun”. In this case, it is the madness of King Ian and Price Ian that comes under scrutiny. The author starts with laying out the political topography of 2007 as the DUP under Paisley entered power with their arch-enemies in IRA/Sinn Fein. Back then, the mood music was positive and Paisley was presented as King of all he surveyed. So how did it all go wrong?
Subsequent chapters explain the legacy of bile and vitriol that Paisley had built his reputation upon. The author shines light into the Free Presbyterian dimension to the House of Paisley and how the move to sit in power with the IRA affected this fundamentalist sect.
The book goes on to point out the economic crisis that was developing in Northern Ireland even as the new Paisley/McGuinness administration basked in media adulation. The crumbling economy would have profound consequences for many ordinary working people but the elite at Stormont knew little of their woes.
In another wittily-titled chapter “Causeway for Concern”, the author opens up the labyrinth of unfortunate connections between the House of Paisley and a local property developer who had his eyes set on the Giant’s Causeway heritage centre. This is then further developed in the next chapter and the author neatly dissects the entire Ian Paisley Jnr/Seymour Sweeney lobbying saga that would lead to the fall from office of young Ian, bringing his father with him.
But just as Ian Junior was on the slippery slopes of the Causeway visitor centre so was Ian Snr – as his Church turned on him and forced him to jump from his position as Moderator before he was pushed from it. It’s hard to explain how betrayed many within the Free Church felt about Paisley Snr’s lust for power – I often felt the devout worshipped him more than their Maker. Either way, there was no way Paisley could choose to be First Minister and Moderator. He chose the former. However neither would endure.
The book then goes on to examine in exquisite detail the land deal lobbying that was to finally do for Baby Doc. Throughout, Paisley Junior comes across as an arrogant and conceited politician who lacked the humility to accept mistakes of judgement has been made. Instead, these mistakes were compounded.
The story then covers the bizarre view taken by Paisley Senior that “satanic forces” impelled those who sought to bring him to account for his decision to sit in power with IRA/Sinn Fein. It says something about the pressures that Paisley must have been experiencing back in 2007 – praised by his former enemies, castigated by his friends.
2008 started with even more inappropriate lobbying allegations concerning Junior. This time it emerged that even as the DUP were engaged in the serious “negotiations” at St Andrews back in 2006, Baby Doc had produced a shopping list of constituency side deals he was looking government to look kindly upon and guess what – yup – at the centre of these was Seymour Sweeney yet again. Within a few more weeks, young Paisley would resign.
The book moves on to examine how the political establishment came under scrutiny for expenses abuse in early 2008. Profligacy with the taxpayer’s cash was rampant and this was a very timely insight into the juicy benefits that the local politicians enjoyed. The author then covers what he wittily refers to as Paisley’s “9/11” – that being the address of the huge office they acquired in Ballymena in Church Street! The landlord of this property was a company called Sarcon 250 and the director of the company at set-up was..yes, Seymour Sweeney. Sweeney was replaced as Director by Ian Paisley Juniors Father-in-law, You get the picture.
So did the electorate. The book then explores the defeat of the DUP in the Dromore by-election and the consequences flowing from that. The impact of the TUV is also discussed but perhaps most telling is the Paisley comment at the end that the result was actually “extremely good”. No further proof of detachment from electoral reality was required.
Paisley Junior resigned from office on 18th February 2008. He made his announcement standing alone - not so much as one DUP colleague around him. This was a solo run for sure. Seymour Sweeney issued a statement praising him. Few others lost any sleep over the demise of Junior. The house was collapsing and just over a month later Paisley Senior announced his intention to resign. As the author points out he jumped before he was pushed, just as had happened with his role in the Free Church. By May 2008, it was all over.
The book concludes with a view AFTER the fall of Paisley. The author suggests that the face of local politics has not changed that much and there is little to attract young people. In that regard he is surely correct, however things may yet change.
You see there is a post-script in which the result of the 2009 European election is highlighted. The collapse of the DUP vote in the Dromore by-election turned out to be more than just a one-off and the change in leader of the DUP had not changed fortunes
I thought this was an excellent read. At the risk of embarrassing the author, his easy style, good humour and sharp insight pulls this story together in a very helpful manner for those who enjoy political history. The Fall of the House of Paisley is an essential read and I thoroughly recommend it. I also look forward to David Gordon updating this book next year when the final stake is driven through what remains of the Paisley dynasty in North Antrim. At the point, perhaps the ghost of Paisley may be exorcised once and for all.
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Reader Comments (7)
The " legacy of bile and vitriol", to say nothing of the legacy of corruption, aggressive ambition and vanity, were all well established long before Paisley cut a deal with Sinn Fein, when instead of "media adulation" he was basking in the adulation of the most conservative elements within Unionism, including yourself, David.
You are all entitled to be enraged at his new political departure; but it is silly and absolutely unconvincing to claim you are enraged at his many personal defects. They were only too evident all those years when you were still a fan.
Interesting post David.
I followed the Seymour Sweeny saga in detail and I might buy the book just for that.
Wonder when the one about the Robbo dynasty is due to be published?
Spot on comment Noel.
Spot on Noel.
What enrages me on this blog (which I otherwise really enjoy) is the hypocrisy and this post is brimming with it!
Anon not Chuffer
It's a review.
It's a good review. Sounds interesting. My problem with it is that it zooms in on too short a window to be called the fall of the house of Paisley. If he is going to 'update' the book then the Paisley house is still standing. 'Dorothy' (Jimbo was refered to as Dorothy from the wizard of ozz) was a bit of a talking point at the DUP conference, and Paisley was upfront, they haven't decided yet who will stand in that particular Antrim constituency yet, no one will beat the old man. The bbc claim the DUP have been chastened but chipper, Sammy joked Jim has no job, and left home like Dorothy not once but twice ;-). So it's game on in unionism. Kelly linked the TUV to dissident republicans, looks like the beginnings of a dirty campaign is on, for when Stormont falls, and it will fall, Sinn Fein have to walk away from this....Robbo is saying he will work within the system to democratise and normalise what is there. They're taking Dorothy on, and they've put the shinners in a bind....going to be interesting, and the Paisley dwelling could still be there after a little renovation, something the book author hasn't taken in to account. A week is a long time in politics...
Very interesting story. Although I follow NI politics, I guess I hadn't realised just what had been going on in the DUP. I had assumed that Dr Paisley had simply retired due to old age. I didn't realise that there was a whiff of scandal! I also didn't realise that he is no longer the Moderator of the FPC of Ulster.
Despite almost universal bad press, this man has been a powerful preacher of the Christian Gospel. He sees himself as a kind of John Knox/Oliver Cromwell/Luther figure and has all the passion and conviction of those great men. Unfortunately, he has never seemed to acknowledge that the world he inhabits is quite different to the 16th and 17th Century!
This has meant that some of his words and actions have left a bad impression on people. (Sadly, there seems to have been instances of rabble-rousing, most notably the 1968 Armagh incident, which is a blemish. I don’t believe that gangs of fired-up louts with cudgels have anything to do with Christianity, but somehow they felt compelled to come to Armagh on that day and I don’t think that Dr Paisley did much to discourage that, and similar behaviour, in the early days.)
It’s also true to say that he (used to) attract a hero worship following from his church and Unionists, and this is something that a Christian should be uncomfortable with. Building a political dynasty was probably a bad idea.
However, having said all that, some are prepared to testify to a man of personal warmth and affection. I really do believe that he cared about everyone in his constituency, not just the Unionists and people who would naturally support him. He has also had positive relationships with politicians of different shades, such as John Hume, when the SDLP was a dirty word in Unionist circles. (Just read the 80s book ‘Paisley’ by Ed Moloney, someone who was by no means a fan!)
His final political act, that of power-sharing with Sinn Fein, may have lost him a lot of support, but may also have been the bravest thing he ever did in his life (sorry, Dave!). I certainly emailed him to encourage him – and he replied! Perhaps he felt that God had said ‘Enough!’ to the Troubles and that it was time to try something new. We all know that Sinn Fein have had a horrible and bloody history but clearly something has changed in that organization, otherwise they would not be sitting in the Stormont government. There was the idea that SF had privately repented of their crimes, although this did not wash with the Ivan Foster’s of the Free Presbyterian church who now seem to spend a lot of time saying (not that politely) how disappointed they are with their former leader.
In conclusion, Ian Paisley is a flawed man, like the rest of us, who has perhaps not made enough effort to stop certain things happening that he knew to be wrong, or at least unhelpful. However, he certainly believes that the Lord is on his side, and he certainly is very clear about the basis of his faith. He knows he’s not perfect, but he has shown a lot more passion and conviction than many other people about what he believes to be right. Will we who are Christian or Unionist or right-wing be able to say the same at the end of our lives?
Finally, if – and it’s a big IF – the power-sharing deal does usher in many years of peace and prosperity for all of Ireland, then perhaps his legacy will be judged more generously?