‘Mad Dog’ Adair charged with harassment

FORMER Ulster Defence Association Brigadier Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair appeared in court in England yesterday charged with harassment.

Wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans, with a number of tattoos visible, shaven-headed Adair confirmed his personal details and indicated a not-guilty plea at Bolton Magistrates Court.

The 41-year-old, who fled to Bolton, Greater Manchester in February 2003 after a feud among loyalist groups in Belfast, is accused of pursuing a course of conduct leading to the harassment of Stephen McQuaid and Kerry Thompson.

He was charged on Wednesday following an incident outside the launderette on Halliwell Road in Bolton on August 15.

A second man, William Woods, from Bolton, appeared in court alongside Adair charged in connection with the same incident. Woods, 37, indicated that he would plead not guilty to two counts of harassment and one count of common assault.

Both men were remanded into custody to appear at Bolton Magistrates Court on August 25.