Sir, - The prime objective of Martin Gregory's article (News Features, July 29th) appears to be promoting the republishing of his book Dirty Tricks, which was discredited by the brave and successful libel action by my friend and colleague Brian Basham, a London public relations consultant to British Airways during my term of office. This resulted in Mr Gregory's book being withdrawn from the bookstands.
Mr Gregory knows little or nothing about Northern Ireland, which is proved by the mistakes he makes in attacking my role. In 1975 I was not dismissed as a part-time private in the Ulster Defence Regiment. I have never written in the Ulster Defender. I have never incited terrorism.
I received an honourable discharge form the Ulster Defence Regiment and later received a Service Medal Northern Ireland for the duties I carried out in the Ulster Defence Regiment. At that time I was with Bill Craig, David Trimble and colleagues in the Vanguard Unionist Party trying to work towards peace in the Constitutional Convention, and at night protecting life and property on duty with B Company, 10th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment in Belfast.
The discrediting of Mr Gregory's book by Brian Basham's successful legal proceedings speaks for itself, as indeed does the fact the Mr Gregory's book is to be republished by Virgin.
I did my job in British Airways defending the company in the battle with Mr Branson. It was tough and competitive. I never did anything illegal and we had every right in defending the interests of our company. A mythology has grown up about the dirty tricks saga which has more to do with Mr Gregory's propagandist role than reality.
As a public relations practitioner, I and my companies have - as do hundreds of bankers, brokers and solicitors throughout the City of London - represented good and successful companies, companies in problems, personalities who have gone through personal and financial difficulties; that is the job of financial advisers and public relations advisers worldwide.
I was a director of the European newspaper, then owned by Mr Robert Maxwell. If that sort of association is damning then it damns just about half the journalists in Fleet Street who worked for him and most of the present Labour government who knew him well.
Mr Gregory and the Guardian appear to have their own Irish republican agenda for Northern Ireland. I have mine in the Ulster Unionist Party and that is to create a long-term and stable peace in the province, which I have tried to do in my work for unionism for the past 30 years. - Yours, etc.,
David W.P. Burnside, London WC2.