A letter sent by Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble to the British Prime Minister on the future of the Royal Irish Regiment was today denounced by a rival as "a hypocritical stunt".
Democratic Unionist MP Mr Nigel Dodds accused the UUP leader and his party of being fully aware of Government plans to cut back on the regiment because of their involvement in last month's Hillsborough talks.
Mr Trimble told party colleagues in Banbridge, Co Down, last night he had written to the Prime Minister so that rumours which had been "steadily gathering steam over recent days" about several battalions could be quashed.
The Ulster Unionist leader insisted: "There seems to be no substance tothis speculation with security and government sources repeatedly stressing that there are no such plans.
Mr Trimble also told colleagues last night he warned the Prime Minister the rumours were impacting on the morale of the unionist community.
But the DUP's Nigel Dodds claimed as participants in the recent talks at Hillsborough the Ulster Unionists knew "full well that the Royal Irish Regiment Home Battalions are to be disbanded as part of the deal that they have negotiated".
PA