Adair’s son shot in legs
Jonathan Adair, 17, was shot in both legs during the punishment attack close to his father’s stronghold in the lower Shankill area of west Belfast.
He was taken to the nearby Mater Hospital for treatment after being wounded at Florence Square just before midnight on Wednesday night.
Security sources said police who went to the scene were forced to leave after being confronted by an angry crowd.
A close associate of Adair, the Ulster Freedom Fighters boss who was jailed for directing terrorism, yesterday expressed shock at the attack.
Ulster Political Research Group spokesman John White said: “Despite the bad criticism of the Lower Shankill for some months they have been doing all they can to normalise that area.
“Even the interface areas there have been quiet because they have a good working relationship with police.” Mr White refused to speculate on why the teenager was targeted.
But he said Adair would be infuriated by the attack.
“His father will obviously be annoyed, as any father would be,” he said.
Sources in the area indicated that it was most likely to have been an internal issue carried out by some branch of the UFF’s parent organisation, the Ulster Defence Association.
One said: “It would have to be something serious because west Belfast have decided they are going to do their utmost to end the punishment shootings.
“But it was most likely carried out by the UDA and it would have to have been done with (Adair’s) C Company knowledge.” Since he was released from Maghaberry prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim three months ago Adair has been considering standing in next year’s elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
He had been freed early under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement but he was sent back to jail in August 2000 after a fierce loyalist shooting war on the streets of Belfast left seven men dead.
However, sources insisted that it was highly unlikely that the rival Ulster Volunteer Force carried out the shooting on Adair’s son.
One said: “The problems with the UVF at the time of the feud have all been resolved and I don’t think that they would do this.”
