The high court in Belfast has ruled that loyalist paramilitary Johnny Adair will remain in jail over the Christmas period. His appeal against last week’s decision by Northern Secretary Dr John Reid not to let him free was turned down by Mr Justice Kerr this afternoon.
Adair had questioned the Northern secretary’s authority in denying him Christmas parole arguing the decision should have been that of the Maghabery prison governor.
Adair, who is commander of the UFF's notorious Lower Shankill C Company and was jailed for 16 years in September 1995 for directing terrorism, was granted leave to challenge the decision last Friday.
Dr Reid based his decision on advice from the Police Service.
He had been released early from prison in September 1999 as part of the Belfast Agreement but was sent back in August last year on the foot of police evidence that he was involved in heightening tensions at the height of a loyalist feud which claimed the lives of seven men in Belfast.
