Alleged Assassination plot re: Rev Ian Paisley

The Guardian has alleged that a section of MI5 contemplated an assassination attempt on the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the Rev Ian Paisley, in the early 1970s.
28 April 1987
The Guardian

According to a former civilian intelligence operative, Mr Colin Wallace, who worked for the army's Information Policy Unit, the attempt was considered as part of MI5's "dirty tricks campaign" to break up and discredit the Loyalist power base.

In November 1984 Mr Wallace sent the Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, a dossier on the campaign which contained a detailed account of specific operations undertaken against Loyalist and Westminster MPs at the instigation of a MI5 operative, who used the alias John Shaw. The scenario was that Mr Paisley might be killed in a Loyalist internal feud involving the homosexual vice ring at the Kincora boys' home and the misappropriation of Loyalists' funds. This would have been part of the wider MI5 campaign against the Wilson government.

The allegation was supported yesterday by Mr Paisley, who had been tipped off about the plot, and said he would be demanding an inquiry.