N. Ireland Militant Is Paroled

Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair, Northern Ireland’s most notorious Protestant militant, was paroled from jail Wednesday, a move that police and politicians said could exacerbate sectarian tensions in Belfast.

More than 200 flag-waving supporters cheered as Adair, a Belfast commander of the outlawed Ulster Defense Assn. that has long attacked the Roman Catholic community, gave a clenched-fist salute outside Maghaberry prison west of Belfast, the provincial capital.

Adair spoke only briefly to a throng of reporters, saying he felt “brilliant.” His UDA colleague, John White, said he understood that many Catholics were fearful about his friend’s freedom.

Catholics “have nothing to fear from Johnny Adair. Johnny Adair will be a force for good in this province,” White said.

Adair was convicted in 1995 of “directing terrorism.” Like hundreds of other convicted paramilitary members, he received early parole under the terms of Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace accord. But Britain revoked Adair’s parole in August 2000, accusing him of inspiring a feud with another banned Protestant group and scheming to undermine the UDA’s 1994 truce.