Ian Paisley says DUP told him to quit as leader 20 January 2014 Last updated at 07:26 By Martina Purdy BBC NI Political Correspondent Ian Paisley and his wife have spoken for the first time about events surrounding his departure as DUP leader and first minister. Although Mr Paisley, now Lord Bannside, said in 2008 that he was not pressured to quit he has now claimed he was told to go. He blamed the current party leader Peter Robinson and his deputy Nigel Dodds. They deny the Paisleys' account of events. The claims are made in part two of the BBC programme Paisley: Genesis to Revelation. I detected a nasty spirit arising from some of the other MPs and the way they spoke to Ian End Quote Eileen Paisley Mr Paisley claimed his special adviser, Timothy Johnson, presented him with a survey of DUP MLAs that contained criticisms of his work as first minister, not least his "chuckling" behaviour with Martin McGuinness. Treated shamefully Mr Paisley has alleged a meeting soon followed, involving Mr Robinson, Mr Dodds, party whip Lord Morrow and Mr Johnson. "Nigel Dodds said to me I want you to be gone by Friday," he said. I just more or less smirked and Peter said 'no, no, no he needs to stay in for another couple of months'. Eileen Paisley said her husband was "assassinated with words and deeds," treated shamefully and was left with no option but to stand down. She described Nigel Dodds as a "cheeky sod." "I detected a nasty spirit arising from some of the other MPs and the way they spoke to Ian," Mrs Paisley said. There are many who will believe that in agreeing to participate in these interviews Lord Bannside will have done nothing to enhance his legacy End Quote Peter Robinson DUP leader I was very annoyed one day with the way some of them spoke to him and addressed him. Whenever they said to him about what was going on and he said to them 'well, that's what should be done' and they said 'och doc', you know? Sort of, 'don't be so stupid'. That sort of set the alarm bells ringing in my head. Diminished recollection Mr Robinson and his colleagues have said no such meeting took place as described, that the timing of Mr Paisley's departure was a matter for him and the passage of time had diminished his recollection. In a statement, Mr Robinson said: "There are many who will believe that in agreeing to participate in these interviews Lord Bannside will have done nothing to enhance his legacy. They will struggle to reconcile the spirit and tone he presents with that which they will have known and admired. This is not the Ian Paisley we knew. As someone who faithfully served Dr Paisley for many decades I will make one final sacrifice by not responding and causing any further damage to his legacy beyond that which he has done himself. "Rather than return insult for insult, let me bless him with the mercy of my silence and wish him well," Mr Robinson added. Inaccurate DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said he was "personally very saddened to learn of the tone and contents of the latest programme on Lord Bannside." Clearly the passage of time has diminished accurate recall of events. "What is being said now by Lord Bannside about meetings is inaccurate and stands in stark contrast to everything that he said and did at the time and, indeed, during the years since," Mr Dodds added. Mr Johnson said the 2008 survey was carried out at Mr Paisley's request and rejected any suggestion it was framed to bring about the leader's removal. In a statement, he said: "Dr Paisley commissioned the survey and was aware of its nature and its findings at the time. Irreversibly damaged At no point then or since has Dr Paisley or Mrs Paisley sought to raise these concerns with me despite having had every opportunity to do so. Mr Johnson added: "After a long and distinguished career it is very regrettable that Dr Paisley, as well as Mrs Paisley, and those who now advise them, have co-operated in the making of two programmes that have significantly and irreversibly damaged his historical legacy. Unsurprisingly, the events of that time have not been accurately recalled and indeed the 'research' used by the production staff is wrong in many significant respects. Mr Paisley has been one of the most controversial political figures of the 20th Century. The documentary also examines that departure. Part Two of Paisley: Genesis To Revelation - Face To Face With Eamonn Mallie is on BBC One NI on Monday 20 January at 22:35 GMT