IAN Paisley is out of intensive care and has been talking to family members.
The former First Minister, who was admitted to intensive care in the Ulster Hospital 12 days ago, left that unit – which treats the most critically ill – and entered the coronary care ward on Tuesday.
A Free Presbyterian Church prayer meeting on Wednesday night was given a positive report on the 85-year-old’s heart condition and told that he was now “off all machines”.
It had previously been reported that the former church moderator was on a ventilator.
A reliable source also told the News Letter that Dr Paisley had been able to speak to family members on Tuesday.
“Dr Paisley has improved and is having a number of conversations with family. The family continue to ask for prayers for him and are thankful for people’s prayers,” they said.
“He does, however, still have a long way to go.
“The family are aware of other people in a worse situation and don’t want to attract attention but there are a lot of people out there who care about and love Dr Paisley.”
The Paisley family, who have been at Dr Paisley’s bedside, have requested privacy during the illness and have asked that the Ulster Hospital does not release updates on the DUP founder’s condition.
On Sunday, prayers were said in Belfast for the veteran preacher-politician in a special service after morning worship in the Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church, which he founded.
The Rev Alan Smylie told the congregation that Dr Paisley’s condition at that point was still “very serious” and said that the Paisley family had greatly appreciated prayers and support from around the Province.
The News Letter columnist had retired from his final full-time position as minister of the Martyrs Memorial in December and had begun work on his memoirs prior to falling ill.