Ian Paisley’s trusted lawyer Dessie Boal QC dies

DESSIE Boal QC – a one-time trusted lieutenant of Ian Paisley – has died aged 85.

He has taken to his grave the secrets he knew about the Kincora boys home sex scandal and who were involved.

Mr Boal, who was born in Co Derry, was a Unionist MP for the Shankill constituency in Belfast between 1960 and 1971.

He went on to form the DUP with Ian Paisley but resigned from the party in 1974.

Boal finally fell out with Rev Paisley when he went into government with Sinn Fein.

His wife Eileen Paisley later told a documentary that following the decision to share power with Sinn Fein, Mr Boal came to their manse in east Belfast and returned books to her husband.