Johnny Adair settles in Scottish seaside town
Former paramilitary boss Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair has moved to a quiet Scottish seaside town, it emerged today.
Adair, the ex-Ulster Defence Association commander, has re-settled in Troon, South Ayrshire, after leaving his previous home in Bolton, Lancashire.
Strathclyde Police confirmed they were keeping a close eye on Adair.
Last month, he walked free from a Bolton court after admitting assaulting his wife, Gina.
A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: “Collectively the Scottish police service is aware of the presence of Mr Adair in Scotland.
“As a UK citizen, he is not subject to any restriction and is free to enter Scotland but the fact that he has chosen to do so is clearly of interest to us.
“We would, however, wish to generally reassure members of the public of our resolve to continually monitor any potential causes for concern and take the action that appears appropriate to the circumstances at that time.”
Adair, 42, was fined £250 at Bolton Magistrates’ Court last month over a drunken attack on his wife of 23 years, with whom he has four children.
The ex-UDA brigadier, who collects state benefits, admitted a charge of common assault.
Adair’s family first came to Scotland and stayed in Ayr in 2003 after fleeing a violent loyalist feud in Belfast.
The terror chief was a hate figure to republicans for much of the 1990s because of his direction of a vicious campaign of sectarian violence against Catholics.
But it was fellow loyalists who ousted “Mad Dog” and many of his C Company allies from their lower Shankill Road power base.
In February 2003, UDA brigadier John Gregg and fellow UDA member Robert Carson were gunned down in Belfast docks as they returned from a Glasgow Rangers match.
Adair’s family and remaining friends then fled their homes and caught the ferry to Scotland before moving to Bolton, settling in the Horwich area.
They were joined earlier this year there by “Mad Dog” after his release from Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim.
