IAN Paisley has alleged British secret services were among those plotting to kill him during the Troubles.
Having lived much of his life under threat of execution from republicans, the DUP man has recalled that he was once tipped off of a British plan to remove him from the Ulster political scene.
Threat
"I took it as a very serious threat from British Intelligence, who wanted at the time to get rid of me," he said - referring to a time around 1972-1973.
"I fortunately got information about it and brought it to this very room (in Stormont Castle) to the Secretary of State (William Whitelaw) and faced him and told him that if he didn't clean up his act I would publicly expose him.
"They saw me as a person to be removed at all costs. But it didn't happen."
Plot
This alleged plot was one of many but Mr Paisley believes the closest shave with assassination was in east Belfast.
"I was shot at on the Albert Bridge. Only that the bullet missed our car by a fraction of an inch, we would all have been dead. I was in a protected car but if it was an armour piercing bullet, if that had of gotten into the car, it would have taken our heads off."
Not only the DUP leader, but his family too were in the firing line.
Family danger
"Ian (Junior ( was attacked too one night, by people who loosened all the bolts on the wheels of his vehicle. If he had gone down the road in the car and braked he could have been killed."
He continued: "My wife was stoned and hurt when doing her work as a councillor. We have had a lot of incidents. The whole family lived through it.
"And I still have continual threats. Even right up to the present time. I have walked in that way. But then I always think that if you are under threat you are not going to be killed. If I am going to kill you I do not send you a note and say 'Friday at 10 o'clock I am coming for you'. Unless you are a mug or a fool."