The UDA is intent on tracking and killing at least five of the score or more of Lower Shankill loyalists associated with Johnny Adair who last week fled to Scotland, according to loyalist sources.
The UDA is determined to trace the UDA C-Company member they believe was responsible for shooting dead UDA south-east Antrim brigadier Mr John Gregg in Belfast docks as he returned from a Glasgow Rangers game over a week ago. The so-called "trigger man" also fled to Scotland.
Adair's close associate and former member of the Ulster Political Research Group, Mr John White, is also on the UDA murder list, the sources added. The man whom Adair appointed to succeed him as commander on the Lower Shankill is also on the UDA "hit list".
The UDA has strong connections in Scotland and believes it can track down Adair's associates. There were reports yesterday that Mr White and others are planning to move south to England.
Adair's wife Gina also fled to Scotland. She is not on the death list, it is understood, although from anti-Adair graffiti appearing on the Shankill and other loyalist parts of Belfast it is clear that she would not be welcome back in the city.
Mr White told yesterday's Observer that Adair would retire from loyalism when he is released from prison. "Johnny told me he is finished with the UDA, and is also finished with loyalism. All he is concerned about is the welfare of Gina and his children," he said.
Mr White added, "I am certainly finished with loyalist politics and the UDA for good after spending so many years in jail for the organisation, after working hard for the ceasefires."
Meanwhile, the UDA said it has appointed a new leader on the Lower Shankill. He is a man who defected from Adair's C-Company at the height of the feud, it is understood.
In a statement on Saturday night the UDA leadership pledged to work to bring some normality to the Shankill Road. It condemned Adair and his colleagues over the killings of Gregg, Robert Carson and Jonathan Stewart.
"These murders were not about patriotism, but greed, money and power, and we must not let us go down this road again. We must get back to the roots of our organisation, which is defend our community," the leadership said. "We pledge to work at a political and community level to stabilise the Shankill Road and surrounding areas."
