Shankill Road UDA commander, Johnny Adair, will today begin his legal battle in Belfast High Court against the British government's decision to return him to jail, writes Suzanne Breen, Senior Northern Correspondent. His case was originally due to start yesterday. His lawyers are attempting to overturn the decision taken by the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, last Friday.
Mr Murphy said that, after studying a security force dossier, he believed Adair was too dangerous to remain at liberty and was likely to commit further offences. The intelligence files are believed to allege Adair is involved in terrorism, drug-dealing, money-laundering and extortion.
The UDA commander, who was granted early release in 1999 under the terms of the Belfast Agreement, was originally sentenced to 16 years imprisonment in 1994 for directing terrorism. If his legal battle fails, he will remain in jail until at least 2005.
Man charged over gun attack
A man has been charged over a gun attack in Co Armagh in which a two-year-old girl was injured. Caithlin Glennon was asleep in the upstairs bedroom when a man went into the house in St John's Court in the nationalist Garvaghy Road area of Portadown early on Monday. It is alleged he fired five shots into the ceiling from the ground floor. The baby suffered wounds to her groin. Neighbours claimed there was a row in the house just before the shots were heard. Following searches of houses in the area, a 34-year-old man was arrested by detectives. A police spokesman last night said: "He is charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances." The man will appear at Craigavon Magistrates Court today.
Judge adjourns Shoukri decision
A former associate of Johnny Adair, Andre Shoukri (25), from Sunningdale Gardens, Belfast, made a second bail application in the High Court yesterday. Shoukri has been in custody since last September accused of possessing a gun and ammunition with intent to endanger life. His first bail hearing was told that when he was arrested at Rathcoole he had the gun for his own protection following death threats. Lord Justice Nicholson said yesterday he was concerned that 20 of the bullets which Shoukri had were not suitable for the weapon he was carrying. The judge adjourned his decision.
Woman on arms charge gets bail
A woman facing firearms and explosives charges was freed on bail yesterday. Ms Rosemary Robb (44), of Castlemara Drive, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, was arrested last week following a shooting in which a man was seriously injured, and was remanded in custody on Monday, along with her daughter, Ms Tammy Robb (19).
A crown lawyer said the items found in the attic of Ms Rosemary Robb's home included a car bomb, pipe-bomb parts, tilt switches, timers, two guns and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
A police officer said there was a suspicion that Ms Tammy Robb, who he said was in a relationship with a man questioned about the shooting, knew about the items and that her mother played a lesser role.