Interviewed in 1980, Brush said he "liked" Ulster Defence Association (UDA) chairman Andy Tyrie but disagreed with the idea of an independent Northern Ireland, believing it could be exploited by the Soviet Union to undermine Britain's western seaboard ("a plum for Brezhnev"). He also believed if the Republic of Ireland joined the Commonwealth then unionists would be obliged to come to an agreement with the Irish government.Belfast Telegraph, 28 May 1980.
