Loyalist Adair to challenge arrest decision in Northern Ireland

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (CNN) - Loyalist paramilitary leader Johnny Adair is to mount a legal challenge to the decision to send him back to jail in Northern Ireland.

Lawyers visited the former leader of the Ulster Freedom Fighters, nicknamed Mad Dog, in Maghaberry Prison, in County Antrim, on Wednesday afternoon.

He was arrested and put back behind bars on Tuesday night on the orders of Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson. The decision followed a spate of violence between rival loyalist -- pro-British -- groups, in which two men were killed.

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John White, chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, which has close ties to the UFF said Adair is "absolutely determined" to challenge the move in the courts.

"He feels he has been made a scapegoat. Johnny Adair lives a charismatic life, verging on flamboyancy, but he has done nothing illegal."

Troops, deployed on the streets of Belfast for the first time in two years, were put on alert following Adair's arrest, but Tuesday night passed without incident.

But White believes the arrest will "exacerbate and inflame" tensions.

He said: "I think the police have made a mistake in re-arresting Mr Adair.

"If they are accusing him of orchestrating the recent troubles, he will be able to do that from inside prison as well as out. They have taken a big risk."

Mandelson has warned any prisoners released under the 1998 Good Friday peace could be re-arrested if violence between the Protestant paramilitary groups continued.

"Anyone who is guilty of causing an affray faces arrest," he said, adding that Adair has "thoroughly compromised himself in his behaviour."

Adair, who was released five years into 16-year prison sentence for directing terrorism last September, had been seen during the summer at the head of the Drumcree marching dispute and at other so-called paramilitary shows-of-strength.

The arrest comes amid clashes between the UDA, which is linked to the UFF, and the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Adair had been stopped in his car by police and ordered onto the ground at gunpoint and handcuffed before being transferred by helicopter to Northern Ireland's Maghaberry prison.

Mandelson said he had taken the decision to suspend the good behaviour licence "after receiving a full report from the security forces and on the advice of the police."

Mandelson said his priority was the safety of the people in Northern Ireland. "I cannot give freedom to an individual intent on abusing it," he said.

"I urge community and political leaders to come forward now and show leadership. Loyalists must put the feuds of the past behind them for the sake of the new generation and the new prosperity we want in Northern Ireland."

Ken Maginnis from the mainly Protestant Ulster Unionists welcomed the arrest, but said the authorities had been slow to act.

"We had to do something about the political violence," he said. "We are faced with a mafia dealing with illegal actions, drugs trafficking, engaged in prostitution -- this has to be stopped."

Soldiers set up checkpoints and patrolled parts of Belfast on Tuesday as the feud between the pro-British loyalist groups threatened to escalate and damage the peace process.

Two men -- one of them a close associate of Adair -- were shot dead on Monday. Both had links to the UDA.

They were killed by a lone gunman as they sat in their car outside a betting shop. One man died on the spot and the second in hospital.

The incident led to outbreaks of violence in the Shankill Road area of Belfast.

Former N.Irish paramilitary back in jail
Adair: Opponent of loyalist truce
UK troops return to Belfast streets
Protestant party vote is crucial for peace process

Royal Ulster Constabulary
UKJ Northern Ireland Office

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