The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, has withdrawn her objection to an early release date for the former UDA leader, Johnny Adair. The UDA had been critical of Dr Mowlam for challenging the decision by the Sentence Review Commission earlier this month.
Adair, who was west Belfast commander of the UDA, is serving 16 years for directing terrorism. He was due to be released on licence next October under the release scheme. The UDA's political wing, the Ulster Democratic Party, had criticised Dr Mowlam's intervention, claiming it was "vindictive" and "politically motivated". The UDA said its members were beginning to question whether loyalists were gaining anything from the Belfast Agreement. The Northern Ireland Office said last night that the Northern Secretary had withdrawn her objection after "further consultation".