Ian Paisley has pacemaker fitted
Former DUP leader and First Minister Ian Paisley Sr has had a pacemaker fitted in a London hospital after he became ill during a House of Lords meeting last week.
The peer, aged 84, was initially treated by parliamentary paramedics then at St Thomas’ Hospital after becoming ill on Wednesday.
He was discharged from hospital on Friday.
He was at home at the weekend and is now back at work behind his desk.
His son, North Antrim MP Ian Paisley Junior, confirmed the heart procedure had been very successful.
He told UTV: “It was quite a week but he has taken to it like a duck to water”.
“He is 100%. He took ill last Wednesday. He wasn’t feeling the greatest, he didn’t pass out or faint or anything. He just knew he wasn’t up to his usual form,” he explained.
Mr Paisley Jr joked: “He was in a crossbench meeting of the Lords. Ed Milliband was the guest – so we’ll have to say to the leader of the opposition: ‘Hey boy you made my Da’ sick'”.
Mr Paisley Sr took his seat in the House of Lordsas Lord Bannside last year after stepping down after 40 years as the MP for North Antrim.
He joined his wife, Baroness Paisley of St George’s, in the Lords.
The former DUP leader stepped down as Stormont first minister in 2008.
