Loyalist paramilitary Johnny "mad dog" Adair, who is due to be freed from jail tomorrow, will be a force for good, it was claimed today.
Mr John White, former chairman of the disbanded Ulster Democratic Party and one of Adair's closest associates, insisted the Ulster Freedom Fighters boss can make a major contribution towards restoring order on the streets.
He said: "Nationalism needs to get the message that Johnny Adair will be a force for good. Nationalists and Catholics have nothing to fear from him".
Adair, from Belfast's lower Shankill area, is set to be released from Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim, after serving out his sentence for directing terrorism.
He was sent back to jail by former Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Peter Mandelson in the summer of 2000 at the height of a vicious loyalist shooting war in Belfast that killed several men.
Up to 200 supporters are expected to be at the prison gates to greet Adair tomorrow.
His release comes as sectarian rioting in north Belfast has spread to other parts of the city. Sinn Féin today claimed nationalists were prevented from reaching a post office in east Belfast.