February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
In several incidents, car loads of armed and masked men, wielding baseball bats and iron bars, have attacked homes in the North Belfast area and fired shots at each other in apparent attempts at drive-by assassinations. No one has been injured so far.
But there has also been speculation that leading loyalist Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair is experiencing a spiritual crisis and may become born again.
Meanwhile, figures released in London show that in the six months to November this year, republicans were responsible for 61 shootings and loyalists for 146.
The police appear to be having some success in arresting loyalists, with several being held for questioning this week, including seven in the north Antrim coast area.
The SDLP assemblyman for East Derry, John Dallat, said: “Police actions are positive and, hopefully, helpful in bringing before the courts a dangerous element which has been causing terror for much too long.
“There is determination now in both communities to be free from the influence of paramilitaries and there is a healthy impatience that they are still active in particular areas.”
But the Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim, David Burnside, said the British government is not doing enough, and there should be a crackdown on those involved in or associated with any form of paramilitary activity.
“We are constantly being told by [British] ministers how delighted we should be that fewer people have been murdered by terrorists in recent years,” Burnside said. “However, the figures clearly demonstrate that the level of violence is still at an extremely high level.”
“I have been around long enough to know that the most ruthless terrorists will not go away of their own volition; they will have to be dealt with by the legitimate forces of law and order.
“Sinn Fein politicians believe that they should be back in government yet, as the figures clearly demonstrate, their friends in the IRA are still shooting people on a regular basis.”
Meanwhile, it appears that the pressure of being Northern Ireland’s leading loyalist may be finally taking its toll on Johnny Adair. With rivals all but queuing up to kill him, there are reports he is turning to God.
Unlikely as it may seem for a man who was photographed in his prison cell next to a mural proclaiming “Kill ’em all — let God sort them out,” and “Yabba-dabba do, any Fenian will do,” he may be getting in touch with his spiritual side.
At least two pastors are believed to have visited Adair during recent weeks, which has prompted speculation that the hard man is in a spiritual crisis and might be about to go the born-again route like his hero, the late Billy “King Rat” Wright.
“It would be a great thing if Johnny Adair were to give himself to God,” one associate said this week. “I was with him recently and he opened up and talked about God for a full hour.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Johnny became religious. People think all loyalist paramilitaries are tough but there’s a soft spot in everybody.”