One of Northern Ireland's most notorious loyalist paramilitary leaders is "seriously considering" standing for election to the Stormont Assembly next year, it was claimed today.
Convicted Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) leader Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair is said to be thinking about running for public office in order to "look after his area".
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Johnny Adair is said to be considering entering politics
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Mr John White, a member of the Ulster Political Research Group and a close associate of Adair's, said he and several others had long been attempting to convince Adair that his future lay in politics.
Mr White, a former member of the now defunct Ulster Democratic Party, said Adair had always said he would not enter politics but after considerable encouragement he was considering what he could do to help his native area of the Shankill Road in west Belfast.
"It took some convincing but he is now seriously considering it. However, he still has not given a clear answer," he added.
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Meanwhile, a former leader of the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association (UDA) said he had also spoken to Adair about entering the world of politics.
Andy Tyrie - once described as the UDA's supreme commander - said Adair was "seriously considering anything he can do for his community".
He added: "He thinks at this stage, he'd be far better being a politician and looking after his area.
"He feels the lower Shankill, in particular, has been neglected because they didn't seem to have the political representation they required at that time."
Adair (38) was sentenced in 1996 to 16 years in prison for directing terrorism.
However, he was freed under licence in 1999, as part of the early prisoner release scheme implemented under the Belfast Agreement.
His early release licence was revoked in August 2000 by the then Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson, after police said Adair had been involved in raising tensions during a violent loyalist feud in the Shankill area.
PA