Angry gardaí are to demand assurances from justice minister Michael McDowell today that the killers of a detective will not be released early.

The Government will not consider releasing the four prisoners who killed a Detective Garda until there is an end to all paramilitary activity, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

Deposed loyalist terror boss Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair suffered a final humiliation tonight when a new paramilitary regime was officially installed in his west Belfast stronghold.

Northern Ireland police mounted a major security operation in Belfast today as the funeral took place of the latest victim in the bitter internal loyalist feud.

Associates of loyalist paramilitary chief Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair were ordered today to cut off all ties with him.