February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Anne Cadwallader
The former UDA commander in West Belfast, Johnny Adair, out of jail on temporary parole, claims he was attacked and shot at a UB40 rock concert in South Belfast last weekend.
Adair, who’s serving 16 years for directing terrorism, said he felt something hit his head and shouted out when people around him recognized him and assaulted him.
He had to run to safety to get a taxi to take him back to the Shankill Road. Witnesses said they saw Adair being set upon but did not hear or see a shot being fired.
Loyalists warned of a backlash if the person responsible for the alleged shooting was not arrested quickly. The UDP spokesman, John White, said there could be an upheaval in the peace process if no one is held responsible.
Republicans have denied any role in the attack, saying there were plenty of people in the community who would have reason to dislike Adair.
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White called Adair a "folk hero" and said there is a risk people would take the law into their own hands. Adair is due to be released later this year under the terms of the Good Friday agreement.