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Glasgow Airport hero John Smeaton branded 'a fake'
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A baggage handler honoured for his role in stopping the failed bomb attack on Glasgow airport has been branded "a fake" who grossly exaggerated his role in thwarting the perpetrators.
John Smeaton
John Smeaton was called a hero after his role at the Glasgow airport attacks
John Smeaton, 31, achieved international celebrity status in the aftermath of the incident last June, which saw terrorists drive a burning jeep into the airport.
However, he has now been accused by one of the men who tackled the terror suspects of failing to tell the whole truth and turning the story of what happened into "the John Smeaton show".
But Mr Smeaton, who collected a Queen's Gallantry medal this month, denied the allegations and said he was shocked the other heroes who fended off the terrorists had turned against him.
He and his accusers agreed the truth would emerge in the trial of suspected attacker Bilal Abdullah, at which CCTV footage of the attack will be shown.
Mr Smeaton achieved international celebrity status in the aftermath of the incident last June, which saw terrorists drive a burning jeep into the airport.
He gave a series of television interviews, in which he claimed to have landed a karate kick on one of the bombers and warned would-be terrorists that "Glasgow doesn't accept this - we'll set aboot ye".
However, Alex McIlveen, who tore a tendon in his foot whilst kicking one of the suspects, accused Mr Smeaton of being "a fake".
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He said: "John Smeaton is not telling the whole truth. When it came to tackling the bombers, he didn't land a blow.
"The only reason John Smeaton got so much attention is because of what he said afterwards about Glasgow not tolerating terrorists."
"He has turned the whole of the Glasgow bombing attempt into the John Smeaton show."
Stephen Clarkson, who also tackled one of the bombers, said he only saw Mr Smeaton help another airport worker move an injured member of the public.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he added: "He [Smeaton] is a hero for what he said.
"All this time I have just been thinking that the truth will come out in court."
Mr Smeaton, from Erskine, Renfrewshire, has been showered with honours, the most prestigious of which was the Queen's Gallantry Medal at Buckingham Palace on March 4. He has met Prime Minister Gordon Brown four times, and was publicly congratulated by him at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth last September.
But last week it emerged the Prime Minister's Office had written to the other people who helped thwart the attack refusing them Gallantry Awards as they did not meet the required criteria.
Mr Smeaton said he was disappointed others had changed their story and insisted his version of events would be borne out by the CCTV footage.
He said: "It's very sad that after all this time some individuals who have been on public record acknowledging what happened should now choose to see things differently.
"I'm confident and relaxed about the situation. I have never felt worthy of any praise that has been given to me.
"However, if others want to acknowledge your involvement there's very little you can do other than try and graciously accept their kindness.
Mr Smeaton denied he had sought out fame and said he had repeatedly campaigned for the other people who helped thwart the bombers to be recognised.
[link to www.telegraph.co.uk]
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