Adair 'received salary from govt-funded scheme'

The British government has launched an inquiry into claims that renegade UDA commander Johnny Adair was paid a salary under an EU-funded community employment scheme last year.

Mr Adair, who was recently sent back to jail for his continuing involvement in paramilitarism, was apparently paid a salary for at least a month by a local community regeneration and reconciliation programme in his Lower Shankill stronghold.

Northern Secretary Paul Murphy decided to revoke Adair's early release licence earlier this month after police said he had resumed his involvement in drugs, extortion, money-laundering and paramilitarism.

While at liberty, he drove an expensive car, wore heavy, gold jewellery and took several foreign holidays, despite having no visible means of income. Des Browne, the British minister for community relations in the North, has pledged to investigate the claims that Adair's illegal income was topped up by government money.