Mad Dog barks out festive greetings

IN the sectarian ghettos of Belfast, even Christmas comes with sinister threats.

Dozens of prominent loyalist figures opposed to renegade terror boss Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair have received chilling cards signed by Adair, his family and his henchmen.

Adair's gang based in Belfast's Lower Shankill area is blamed for the murder of a young man in the north of the city last week the first death in a feud that has been simmering for three months.

He had already used a tree supplied by Belfast City Council to send festive greetings from his gang of the Ulster Freedom Fighters and he has produced a calendar featuring dozens of heavily armed men.

His Christmas cards carry similar threats of violence to his rivals. Hand-

written messages which accompany the printed "Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year" include "Never fired a bullet in 30 years" and "scumbag". Adair's own messages say "Freedom Fighters" and "You've let the side down, see you later."

His teenage son, Jonathan, signs himself "Young Honny" and his contributions are "Santa's coming ha ha" and "Your an embarrassment." Adair authorised the punishment shooting of his son earlier this year, after he had been involved in joy-riding and fights.

Most of the leaders of the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association which expelled Adair and White three months ago received the cards. Others were sent to families who had been forced out of the lower Shankill area recently by Adair.

A source close to Adair said: "We are just letting them know what we think of them. We want them to know that we know where they live."

A prominent UDA source said last night: "It is just Adair trying to intimidate people once again.

"He has been responsible for one murder in Christmas week and it looks as if there will be more dead before this thing is settled."

The UDA leadership has passed a death sentence on Adair and only a heavy security force presence in the area has prevented attacks on him and his associates.

Last week's victim, Jonathan Stewart, aged 22, had been living with the daughter of one of Adair's allies.