Adair can fight parole decision - Judge

Jailed loyalist paramilitary leader Johnny Adair was today granted to leave to challenge the Northern Ireland Secretary’s decision to refuse him Christmas parole.

In the High Court in Belfast, Mr Justice Brian Kerr granted the leader of the Ulster Freedom Fighters’ notorious C Company leave to apply for a judicial review of John Reid’s decision to keep him in jail over the Christmas and New Year period while more than 200 other prisoners are released.

The hearing will take place on either Saturday or Christmas Eve.

Dr Reid yesterday blocked Adair’s bid for Christmas parole while a hearing was in progress challenging an earlier refusal for parole several months