Adair's lawyers begin NI court challenge

Lawyers for renegade UDA commander Johnny Adair are due before the High Court in Belfast today to challenge the Northern Secretary's decision to revoke his early release licence and return him to jail.

Adair was re-arrested on Friday night on the basis of security information which said he was involved in paramilitarism, drugs, extortion and money-laundering, was a member of an illegal organisation and had acquired, possessed and distributed illegal weapons.

Adair, the notorious commander of the UDA's "C" Company in west Belfast, could he held in Maghaberry Prison until January 2005 if today's High Court challenge fails.