The Right Hon James Molyneaux '“ war hero and distinguished unionist leader

It has not, however, been the sort of simple celebration that the late Ulster Unionist leader deserved.

On Thursday a man called Christopher Luke placed a newspaper notice to Lord Molyneaux, grieving his “close companion”. Mr Luke was then interviewed by another paper in which he implied past intimacy, such as the extraordinary language: “Jimmy, darling, it’s Chrissie from London.”

Mr Luke has moved in unionist circles for more than two decades, and is a regular letter writer. The News Letter received a tribute from him to Lord Molyneaux 17 days go, accompanied by a photograph taken late in the peer’s life, in which he is so frail that he appears unable even to look at the camera.

The letter was hagiographic (as opposed to romantic) in tone and, in conjunction with the photograph, of questionable taste. We published many tributes to Lord Molyneaux in the aftermath of his death, but decided not to run the letter.

The subject has since arisen via the memoriam notice, the interview and another interview, on BBC Talkback.

The former UUP MP David Burnside in this newspaper today joins those people who have told us of their grave concerns at Mr Luke’s claims. Mr Burnside is outraged at the BBC airtime.

It is questionable whether Talkback should have rushed into an interview, although William Crawley did handle it skilfully. Mr Luke fluctuates between alleging mutual love, and brushing aside questions of romance. That response is disingenuous, because his words hint at such interpretation.

This is reprehensible, not because it raises the prospect of same-sex relations, but because the man is dead. He cannot say if he had positive, negative or any feelings about Mr Luke.

Mr Molyneaux was a private man so it is fair to speculate that he would have been horrified by this publicity.

He will be remembered as a war hero and public servant of decades standing, respected in his constituency, the Province and at Westminster – and not for this grisly saga.