JOHN SMEATON, the baggage handler criticised for exaggerating his role in thwarting last year’s terrorist bombing of Glasgow airport, has engaged a public-relations company to improve his image.

The self-styled “Smeatonator”, whose alleged heroics took him from loading suitcases to rubbing shoulders with statesmen and royalty, is being represented by PMPR, an agency headed by Peter McLean, formerly head of communications for Celtic football club. Smeaton is a fervent Rangers supporter.

Smeaton has had audiences with Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond and was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his self-proclaimed heroics last summer. He has had a documentary made about his life, he writes a weekly newspaper column and he has travelled the world representing Scotland in various roles. A tribute website set up to honour him received 500,000 hits in the first 48 hours and he has appreciation sites on Bebo and Facebook.

Last month he experienced his first taste of negative press when he was branded a “fake” by others involved in the rescue effort.

Alex McIlveen, a taxi driver who also helped to apprehend the two men, criticised Smeaton’s story, insisting: “There were no heroics on his part. He didn’t land a blow on anyone.”

The 31-year-old baggage handler was on a cigarette break when two men drove a lorry loaded with gas cannisters into the front of the main terminal building. In his version of events, given at the time, he karate-kicked one of the terrorists before dragging a fellow bystander to safety from the gas-filled vehicle.

“I got a kick in,” he told journalists. “Other passengers were getting kicks in. Me and other folk were just trying to get the boot in and some other guy banjoed him.”

Smeaton has admitted he now has no recollection of landing a blow on either of the bombers.

“He ran and kicked at a guy, or at least he thinks he kicked him, but he doesn’t know if he made a connection,” said a friend last week.

PMPR said that the company was not taking payment from Smeaton for its services. One of the firm’s clients is John McGlynn, of Airlink Group, which now employs the former baggage handler.

Smeaton recently travelled to New York City to receive an Everyday Superhero award from CNN, the television news channel. He is now promoting Scotland Week in the city.

The exact nature of Smeaton’s involvement in the airport attack is expected to be revealed during the trial of Bilal Abdullah, one of the Glasgow bombing suspects who has been charged with terrorism offences. Another man, Kafeel Ahmed, who set himself on fire during the attack, died from his injuries.

Abdullah’s trial is scheduled for the Old Bailey in London in October and CCTV footage of the attack is likely to be shown as part of the evidence against him.

Friends close to Smeaton insist that his willingness to take on the alleged bombers and his comical message that “If you come to Glasgow, we’ll set aboot ye” is what made him a celebrity.

Within a few hours of the attack, there was a website in his name, where pints could be bought for him via PayPal. On eBay there are T-shirts promoting “The Smeatonator”.

Last week, McIlveen urged Smeaton to be honest about his role during the attack. “He has changed his tune a couple of times. It’s obvious he doesn’t remember. I know that he never made contact because I was there. The only reason that John’s getting recognition is because of what he said on television.”

The Cabinet Office, which awards the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, refused to comment.

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