IN an unexpected development yesterday at Belfast Crown Court, the self confessed loyalist paramilitary leader, Johnny Adair, refused to give evidence against a former French Foreign Legionnaire accused of attempting to murder him.
Adair, who is serving 16 years for terrorist activities, told Mr Justice Kerr that he was in fear of his life. He had given evidence at the original trial of former paratrooper Stephen Larkin (25), of Jamaica Road, Ardoyne, who denies attempting to murder Adair and another man in March 1993.
But, when called yesterday on the second day of Larkin's re trial, Adair said: "I refuse to give evidence in this current trial in fear of the safety of my life ... and that of my family from republican groups". He also refused to tell Larkin's defence when he had reached his decision, saying that he was not answering any questions.
Counsel for the defence suggested to Adair that his supposed fears for his life were "a load of cod". An application by the prosecution to have Adair's evidence from his deposition read to the court was rejected by Mr Justice Kerr.
Adair and another man, Mr Donald Hodgen, were slightly wounded by a lone gunman who fired on them as they sat in Adair's Vauxhall car outside his home in Berlin Street, Belfast, on March 6th, 1993.
Earlier Mr Justice Kerr agreed that three prosecution witnesses, to be identified only by number, can be screened from the public while giving their evidence because of fears for their safety. The prosecution claims that the witnesses can identify Larkin as the gunman who fired on Adair's car with a rifle.
Mr Joe Coggle, a Belfast city councillor, told the court he was in his Berlin Street home when he heard the shooting, ran outside and saw a white car drive past his house. He claimed that he saw two people crouching down in the back of the car and he reported this to the police.
The trial continues today.