Former DUP leader Ian Paisley first met with then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 1999 over a series of attacks on Free Presbyterian churches in Monaghan
THE FIRST FACE-to-face meeting between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and DUP leader Ian Paisley at Government Buildings in 1999 was held following attacks on Free Presbyterian church property, with ‘religion, not politics’ being discussed.
The meeting came eight years ahead of their famous meeting in 2007, when then-First Minister Paisley shook Ahern’s hand at Government Buildings. The meeting between the two leaders took place following the Good Friday Agreement, which Paisley and the DUP had opposed due to the presence of Sinn Féin at the talks.
In a letter addressed to Ahern, Paisley said that there was over £100,000 pounds worth of damage done and that a Garda had told him that it was caused by “drunken vandals” and there wasn’t a religious motivation. “In view of these attacks the Presbytery requests an urgent meeting with to to put this very serious affair before you.”
He added that he would be asking Gardaí to increase their vigilance in protecting churches in Monaghan and in border counties.
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