A number of senior officers across Scotland are genuinely frightened about the consequences of the Adair clan’s arrival. One said: “We’ve a number of dangerous scenarios which could spiral out of control. Firstly, these people are targets and there could quite easily be attempts on their lives in Scotland from rival loyalists. Then again, it could be the exiles who decide to take action against their rivals here. The Adair mob could also try to muscle in on existing Scottish gangs and take control of their rackets. I have a bad feeling that this will end with blood on Scottish streets.”
Special Branch has been keeping tabs on the exiles since they got here on Thursday morning. Questions have been raised over why Jack McConnell, the First Minister, was not briefed by the Northern Ireland government that the dissidents were bound for Scotland. The Scottish Executive has vowed that any criminal conduct will be met with an iron fist. Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell has now intervened, telling the Northern Ireland Office that she must be kept fully briefed. However, a Scotland Office spokesperson said the dissidents could not be removed from Scotland. “These people are British citizens and as such can move around the U.K. unhindered.”
Gina Adair and John White are not the only high-profile loyalists among the exiles. They include Jackie “the halfwit” Thompson, who took over C Company when Adair was jailed and the brothers Herbie and Sham Millar and their mother Wendy, who founded the women’s wing of the UDA. These four have all been told never to return to Northern Ireland by the UDA’s inner council. The man who executed Gregg is also among the exiles.
Special Branch has been keeping tabs on the exiles since they got here on Thursday morning. Questions have been raised over why Jack McConnell, the First Minister, was not briefed by the Northern Ireland government that the dissidents were bound for Scotland. The Scottish Executive has vowed that any criminal conduct will be met with an iron fist. Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell has now intervened, telling the Northern Ireland Office that she must be kept fully briefed. However, a Scotland Office spokesperson said the dissidents could not be removed from Scotland. “These people are British citizens and as such can move around the U.K. unhindered.”
Gina Adair and John White are not the only high-profile loyalists among the exiles. They include Jackie “the halfwit” Thompson, who took over C Company when Adair was jailed and the brothers Herbie and Sham Millar and their mother Wendy, who founded the women’s wing of the UDA. These four have all been told never to return to Northern Ireland by the UDA’s inner council. The man who executed Gregg is also among the exiles.