Johnny Adair refused Christmas parole

The British government has refused to release UDA paramilitary Johnny Adair from prison for Christmas, it emerged tonight.

Northern Secretary John Reid decided to keep the UDA commander in prison following consultations with security officials, who fear his release could stoke sectarian tensions in Belfast.

Adair, who launched a legal challenge to the decision to keep him in jail, was hoping to be freed from Maghaberry Prison tomorrow, but he was told of Dr Reid’s decision to deny him parole today.

Adair was released from prison in September 1999 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

However, the British government revoked his licence in August last year after hearing that he played a leading role in the violent dispute between the UVF and the UDA, which claimed seven lives in Belfast.

Adair was commander of the UDA’s infamous C Company on the Shankill Road in west Belfast.