Gregg plays down 'heckling' incident
FOOTBALL legend Harry Gregg has moved to distance himself from reports that he was heckled by a Ballymena councillor at the weekend.
The Munich air disaster hero was a special guest at a function in the town organised to raise funds for the Co Antrim Milk Cup side.
During a question and answer session, Traditional Unionist Voice representative Robin Stirling disrupted proceedings by shouting from the floor.
It is understood the veteran councillor was later escorted from the function by police.
After compere for the night, Jackie Fullerton, called for a break, Gregg revealed he went to personally speak to Mr Stirling in an attempt to defuse the situation.
Speaking to the News Letter, the former Manchester United goalkeeper said Mr Stirling did not appear to be involved in a personal vendetta against him.
"The guy wasn't having a go at me - he was simply making noises when Jackie Fullerton and I were involved in a question and answer session.
"People are saying it was personal, but I have never met the man in my life."
Commenting on his conversation with the TUV man during the interval, Mr Gregg described Mr Stirling as "being well intoxicated".
Mr Stirling told the ex-Northern Ireland international that someone had told him he was like former rugby player Willie John McBride.
Gregg recalled: "He then said something like, 'I'll tell you what, footballers and rugby players are nothing but hooligans'.
"'I'm just a carpenter', I told him."
The 76-year-old also revealed that fellow councillors, sitting at the same table, turned their back on their colleague.
Describing the incident as "a bit embarrassing", Mr Gregg said he felt sympathetic to the event's organisers.
"However, the function was for the right reasons and in that regard I believe it was successful."
Councillor Stirling was a member of the DUP for over 40 years before defecting to the TUV.
When contacted by the News Letter, Mr Stirling said: "I'm not being uncooperative but I will be making no comment on the matter."
A spokesman for the TUV refused to rule out disciplinary action against the Ballymena party member.
He said: "If the reports are accurate, it is not behaviour one would expect from a councillor.
"It (disciplinary action) is something we will have to pass judgment on at a later stage."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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