Johnny ‘Mad Dog' Adair says he was in ‘no danger' during visit to Belfast
Adair tells how he paused for a moment to pay his respects at a wall mural showing his late loyalist friend Jackie Coulter
Former loyalist terror chief Johnny 'Mad Dog' loves the old adage: 'You can take the boy out of Belfast, But you can't take Belfast out the boy'.
That's what he told us when we asked why the exiled terror chief made a visit from his home in Ayrshire to his old Shankill Road stomping ground last week.
'I still have a lot of very good friends in Belfast and I like to keep in touch with them. I'm back in Belfast often. It's only because I made a video of me driving around the lower Shankill that it became an issue,' he said.
He added: 'I know imaginations were running wild, but the simple truth is I was in Belfast to see my friends. I still have a lot of them.'
Last week, a short self-shot film appeared on the internet showing Adair on the cross-channel ferry as it docked in Belfast.
And by way of commentary, the former UDA Brigadier smiled as he said: 'Here we are on the big boat, just coming into Belfast.'
He added: 'Top of the world Johnny, top of the world.'
Later in the same film, he is seen driving around the lower Shankill estate, which was once the home base of Adair's notorious loyalist killer gang 'C Coy'.
'Here we are, lower Shankill. C Coy, here we go.' Adair said with a smile.
He paused for a moment to pay his respects at a wall mural showing his late loyalist friend Jackie Coulter, who was gunned down by the UVF in 2000 as part of an internecine feud.
Staring at the mural, Adair said: 'There's Jackie. Top of the morning to you, sir.'
Speaking to the Sunday World this week, Adair said he enjoyed his whistlestop tour of his old territory. And felt nostalgic remembering his many friends who went through the worst of the Troubles alongside him.
He said: 'Of course the area has changed greatly from when I lived there. It was just a big shining light when we were there.
'But it's like everywhere else. Everything changes. Nothing stays the same and you've got to move with the times.
'There's no doubt the place has changed and the atmosphere has changed, but that's a good thing. I still have good friends in the lower Shankill and I just decided to take a wee drive around the estate.'
Although Adair is still living under a paramilitary threat from at least two loyalist organisations, he said he wasn't aware of it during his recent visit.
'Realistically I wasn't in any danger. I took a short drive through the area, but I didn't really hang about for any length of time.
'The Shankill was a really thriving road in its day. And when we lived on the lower part of the road, it was a stronghold.
'But when I looked around, I realised lots of things have changed. The Good Friday Agreement has been in place for a long time now and it's working. The Good Friday Agreement changed everything.
A mural in memory of murdered UDA member Jackie Coulter in the Lower Shankill
'Lots of changes have taken place and are continuing to take place,' he said.
Adair remains convinced the days of paramilitary organisations are over. And he believes people are genuinely working towards that.
'I believe the organisations know it's over, although they're still going and trying to get as much money as they can in the meantime.
'The way I see it is, if the state is willing to give them money to keep quiet, then good luck to them.'
But Adair also emphasised: 'Some day soon though we will have to cross the finishing line as far as the paramilitaries are concerned. You can't keep putting the begging bowl out and saying: 'Give us another £1.2 million or else we're going back to war'.
'The paramilitaries have to be realistic. I believe that over the years they have been given millions. And they have made promises.
'I we look back at the conflict and then compare it to the present day, then there has been a big change. In fact it's a massive change within the communities where the UVF and UFF flourished.
'Clearly the Good Friday Agreement was about disbanding the paramilitary organisations. And yes, it maybe has taken a long time, but to me it looks as though it's going in the right direction.
'The Shankill is a great place and I'm just glad its not what it was like all those years ago,' he said.
Former loyalist terror chief Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair arrived in Belfast last week
Adair also said he was glad to note sectarian rioting appears to be largely a thing of the past.
'Of course interface rioting does happen, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. And yes, we have the dissident republicans, but they have proved they aren't a serious threat to society.
'Science has also changed everything. There are cameras everywhere. People have doorbell cameras and security systems on their homes and paramilitary groups will be well aware of that.
'It's not like the old days, when paramilitaries burned their clothes and even if the were arrested and held in a holding centre for seven days, if they kept their mouth shut, they were back out on the streets.
'The world has moved on. Police skills are much improved and the chances of being caught are far greater that ever before,' said the former UFF terror boss.
He added: 'That's the modern world and if you don't move with it, you'll be left behind.'
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Sunday World
9 hours ago
- Sunday World
Johnny ‘Mad Dog' Adair says he was in ‘no danger' during visit to Belfast
Adair tells how he paused for a moment to pay his respects at a wall mural showing his late loyalist friend Jackie Coulter Former loyalist terror chief Johnny 'Mad Dog' loves the old adage: 'You can take the boy out of Belfast, But you can't take Belfast out the boy'. That's what he told us when we asked why the exiled terror chief made a visit from his home in Ayrshire to his old Shankill Road stomping ground last week. 'I still have a lot of very good friends in Belfast and I like to keep in touch with them. I'm back in Belfast often. It's only because I made a video of me driving around the lower Shankill that it became an issue,' he said. He added: 'I know imaginations were running wild, but the simple truth is I was in Belfast to see my friends. I still have a lot of them.' Last week, a short self-shot film appeared on the internet showing Adair on the cross-channel ferry as it docked in Belfast. And by way of commentary, the former UDA Brigadier smiled as he said: 'Here we are on the big boat, just coming into Belfast.' He added: 'Top of the world Johnny, top of the world.' Later in the same film, he is seen driving around the lower Shankill estate, which was once the home base of Adair's notorious loyalist killer gang 'C Coy'. 'Here we are, lower Shankill. C Coy, here we go.' Adair said with a smile. He paused for a moment to pay his respects at a wall mural showing his late loyalist friend Jackie Coulter, who was gunned down by the UVF in 2000 as part of an internecine feud. Staring at the mural, Adair said: 'There's Jackie. Top of the morning to you, sir.' Speaking to the Sunday World this week, Adair said he enjoyed his whistlestop tour of his old territory. And felt nostalgic remembering his many friends who went through the worst of the Troubles alongside him. He said: 'Of course the area has changed greatly from when I lived there. It was just a big shining light when we were there. 'But it's like everywhere else. Everything changes. Nothing stays the same and you've got to move with the times. 'There's no doubt the place has changed and the atmosphere has changed, but that's a good thing. I still have good friends in the lower Shankill and I just decided to take a wee drive around the estate.' Although Adair is still living under a paramilitary threat from at least two loyalist organisations, he said he wasn't aware of it during his recent visit. 'Realistically I wasn't in any danger. I took a short drive through the area, but I didn't really hang about for any length of time. 'The Shankill was a really thriving road in its day. And when we lived on the lower part of the road, it was a stronghold. 'But when I looked around, I realised lots of things have changed. The Good Friday Agreement has been in place for a long time now and it's working. The Good Friday Agreement changed everything. A mural in memory of murdered UDA member Jackie Coulter in the Lower Shankill 'Lots of changes have taken place and are continuing to take place,' he said. Adair remains convinced the days of paramilitary organisations are over. And he believes people are genuinely working towards that. 'I believe the organisations know it's over, although they're still going and trying to get as much money as they can in the meantime. 'The way I see it is, if the state is willing to give them money to keep quiet, then good luck to them.' But Adair also emphasised: 'Some day soon though we will have to cross the finishing line as far as the paramilitaries are concerned. You can't keep putting the begging bowl out and saying: 'Give us another £1.2 million or else we're going back to war'. 'The paramilitaries have to be realistic. I believe that over the years they have been given millions. And they have made promises. 'I we look back at the conflict and then compare it to the present day, then there has been a big change. In fact it's a massive change within the communities where the UVF and UFF flourished. 'Clearly the Good Friday Agreement was about disbanding the paramilitary organisations. And yes, it maybe has taken a long time, but to me it looks as though it's going in the right direction. 'The Shankill is a great place and I'm just glad its not what it was like all those years ago,' he said. Former loyalist terror chief Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair arrived in Belfast last week Adair also said he was glad to note sectarian rioting appears to be largely a thing of the past. 'Of course interface rioting does happen, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. And yes, we have the dissident republicans, but they have proved they aren't a serious threat to society. 'Science has also changed everything. There are cameras everywhere. People have doorbell cameras and security systems on their homes and paramilitary groups will be well aware of that. 'It's not like the old days, when paramilitaries burned their clothes and even if the were arrested and held in a holding centre for seven days, if they kept their mouth shut, they were back out on the streets. 'The world has moved on. Police skills are much improved and the chances of being caught are far greater that ever before,' said the former UFF terror boss. He added: 'That's the modern world and if you don't move with it, you'll be left behind.'
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
‘How did Winkie get half my sentence?' – Robber says loyalist is state agent
Robber who was jailed after being forced to store guns for drugs gang hits out at UVF leader's prison term Gerard Porter was handed the minimum sentence of five years after he was forced to store guns for a drugs gang, while Winston 'Winkie' Irvine was given half that Winkie Irvine's guns and bullets sentence has been blasted by a Belfast man who served twice as long for a lesser firearms offence. Gerard Porter says it's a disgrace that UVF boss Irvine was given just two and a half years last month for possession of guns and ammunition, with just half to be served behind bars. When Gerard was forced by a drugs gang to store weapons, he was given the minimum tariff of five years, and also lost out on time off his sentence for the eight months he'd spent on remand. The 56-year-old, who'd had the weapons for just a few hours when he was arrested in May 2018, was acting under duress to clear a debt to the gang, and posed no threat as there was no ammunition. He also has no terrorist connection. Winston 'Winkie' Irvine 'When Winkie Irvine was sentenced I thought is there a rule for one and a rule for the other. It was brutal,' he says. 'I think he's definitely a protected state agent. There's one rule for the Catholic community and one rule for the loyalist community. Why should I get five years and I wasn't caught with any bullets? 'The judge said to me the minimum sentence I can give you is five years. The minimum is the lowest, so how did he get half of my sentence?' The UVF man's tariff has been criticised by politicians including First Minister Michelle O'Neill and the UUP's Doug Beattie and has now been referred by the PPS to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient. Gun found by police when they stopped 'Winkie' Irvine Ammo found by police when they stopped 'Winkie' Irvine, from Ballysillan Road in Belfast, has never given any explanation for having the long-barrelled firearm, two suspected pistols, several magazines and a large quantity of ammunition which were discovered inside a holdall in his boot. The guns and ammunition had been moved from co-accused Robin Workman's van to the boot of Irvine's car in the Glencairn area of Belfast, before Winkie was stopped by the PSNI in Disraeli Street. He gave no-comment responses to police following his arrest in June 2022, but provided a prepared statement that he was 'a trusted interlocutor engaging with the community on key outstanding issues in relation to the Northern Ireland peace and political process'. Workman, of Shore Road, Larne — who pleaded guilty to an additional charge of possessing an air rifle without a certificate — was given the minimum sentence of five years, which is not being appealed by the PPS. Both men will serve half their sentences in jail and half on licence. Robin Workman During sentencing, Judge Gordon Kerr cited exceptional circumstances, including the impact on Irvine's wife and four children. He said he did not consider the crimes to be connected to terrorism. However, Irvine was allegedly the notorious commander of UVF B Company on the Shankill Road, raking in thousands of pounds a week from its drugs and racketeering. 'He's a known loyalist terrorist. I'm not a terrorist. I'm an ordinary Joe,' says Gerard. 'I was caught with guns in suspicious circumstances. He was caught with guns and bullets, and he gets half of what I got. 'I couldn't have shot anyone with those guns; I had no bullets.' Gerard had a decades-old conviction for armed robbery with an imitation firearm but says he'd kept out of trouble until the drugs gang exacted their revenge on him. The west Belfast grandfather worked as a scrap man when he ended up on the wrong side of the gang. 'I hadn't been in trouble with any sort of guns until those guns,' he says. 'I was a go-between, getting stuff for other people, because I had a good name. 'People were asking 'can you get me this' and 'get me that' and I would get it and I wasn't getting paid. It was building up and building up and when it came to eight grand I said 'I'm out', and that's when the trouble started. 'It was cocaine. I wasn't taking it or selling it. Out of all the things I've done in my life, I don't sell drugs.' Gerard Porter was handed the minimum sentence of five years after he was forced to store guns for a drugs gang, while Winston 'Winkie' Irvine was given half that News in 90 Seconds - June 26th The debt had been hanging over him for several years when the gang asked him to hold guns for them overnight, with the clear message that he'd come to harm if he didn't. Within hours of the weapons arriving at his house in Cluain Mor Drive, the police were at his door. 'I was under duress. They [the drug gang] were going to beat me to get the drug debt. 'Hopefully I was getting shot of the guns the next day, but I didn't — what I got was Maghaberry. 'I knew right away what was happening. The cops didn't even come in with a search warrant. 'I don't know whether someone was getting paid for the information but the drug debt they got in the end was getting me put in jail.' In prison in Maghaberry and later Magilligan, he suffered a stroke and was saved by Albert Armstrong, the double killer jailed for 14 years in 2016 for the samurai sword murders of senior loyalist Colin 'Bap' Lindsay and his friend Stanley Wightman. 'Albert saved my life. He got me up and got me sorted and shouted to the screws I needed help,' says Gerard. He's now had to move out of west Belfast and away from his family. He believes the Court of Appeal should increase Irvine's sentence to at least five years. 'I hope he gets a proper sentence, and the judge told me it starts at five years. I'm going by what the justice system told me. 'It has to be fair,' he says.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
Offences against the State Act renewed without vote
Sinn Féin has insisted that it would have abstained on the renewal of the Offences against the State Act but it was ultimately not put to a vote after the party's Justice spokesperson was outside the Dáil chamber when it was passed. Matt Carthy had "stepped out" for a few minutes during the debate on the emergency measures that are renewed by the Oireachtas annually. When he returned, to an almost empty Dáil, he was told by the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that the matter had been dealt with. Earlier, he had told the Dáil that the emergency legislation, which dates back 90 years, should not be used on an ongoing basis. Mr Carthy called for the the introduction of a modern legal framework to tackle organised crime and to protect jurors. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said that he has accepted in principle the recommendations from a independent review group. It called for the repeal of the Act along with the establishment of a non-jury court on a standing basis. It would be available when ordinary courts were inadequate. However, he said this would have to be approached with the utmost caution and he indicated that the new system may not be in place before the Offences against the State Acts are due for renewal again next year. The Minister said that so called 'dissident republicans', who have their origins in the Provisional IRA and the INLA, continue to pose a threat, the Dáil has heard. Despite the progress towards peace made over the years, they continue to seek to return to the fruitless violence of the past, he said. "They have remained resolute in their opposition to democracy and rule of law and all that the Good Friday Agreement stands for; and they remain wedded to brutality and criminality," Minister O'Callaghan said. He said that it is also important not to lose sight of the threat from violent extremism and international terrorism. The Minister added that terrorism - particularly jihadist and lone actor attacks - remains a key risk to the EU's internal security. Ireland is not immune from the threats arising in this changed security environment, and the country must have the capability to deal with them, the Minister said.
