I note that the Belfast Telegraph wishes to promote the mistaken and inaccurate view that I, when First Minister, actively promoted what the Telegraph calls “gay funding”. I did not.

Your article ‘Robinson office in £75k gay funding’ from August 7 contains a throwaway sentence stating, “a total of £100,000 was released by OFMDFM during Mr Paisley’s time as First Minister”.

For the record a three-year package of funding was commenced by then Secretary of State Peter Hain.

This funding was set to increase and continue unchallenged under Direct Rule.

I was never in a position to break those contractual obligations entered into by the previous administration when I became First Minister and neither was my successor.

However, when those contractual arrangements end OFMDFM has full control of where and how funding is directed.

The implication, I assume intended by the Belfast Telegraph article, is that I ordered or approved such funding.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

There is not a shred of evidence to support the suggestion, hence the word “released” the funding, conveniently leaving out the background of how the funding was arrived at in the first place.

I have always opposed homosexual practices and other sinful practices both as a gospel minister and as a politician, because I believe that all sinfulness when it is finished brings about death.

While the Press sees value in mockery and pouring scorn on those of us with scriptural beliefs, the public ought not to be conned by such distorted reports.

DR IAN PAISLEY MP