Belfast loyalist William "Mo" Courtney was jailed for eight years today over the killing of one of Johnny Adair's closest associates.
Courtney (43), a one-time Ulster Defence Association commander, had admitted the manslaughter of Alan McCullough.
McCullough (21), was shot up to four times and buried in a shallow grave near north Belfast in May 2003 at the height of a vicious feud within the UDA.
He was driven to his death after being given assurances that it was safe for him to return to Northern Ireland.
The victim had earlier fled to England with other members of Adair's notorious C Company, who were routed from their power base in the city's Lower Shankill when the shooting war intensified following the assassination of rival UDA chief John "Grug" Gregg.
Courtney, who was acquitted of McCullough's murder last year but ordered to stand trial again, said he took the victim to a rendezvous with other unnamed terrorists believing a punishment shooting, possibly a knee capping, might be inflicted on him.
He claimed he never believed McCullough would be killed. Prosecutors did not dispute this claim.