Born in Lurgan, Burns studied at Renshaw's College in Belfast.
He moved to Canada, where he worked in a bank, then to South Africa, where he was employed in construction.
He later lived near Donaghadee and worked as the director of various property management companies.
[1] He was elected to the executive of the United Ulster Loyalist Council and became active in the Democratic Unionist Party.
[2] In his spare time, Burns was an enthusiastic yachtsman and was a member of the World Christian Endeavour Choir.