Johnny Adair's son death '˜unexplained'

Jonathan Adair, aged in his early 30s, was found dead in a property in the Troon area of South Ayrshire on Saturday.

Known as ‘Mad Pup’ in loyalist circles after his notorious UDA boss father, Johnny Adair Snr or ‘Mad Dog’, Jonathan Adair had been living in Scotland for some time.

Police say a post-mortem will be carried out “in due course” before a report is submitted to the procurator fiscal in Scotland.

His paramilitary leader father was jailed in 1995 for directing terrorism – the first conviction of its kind. The UDA leader was later released from prison under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement.

He was jailed again in 2000 when the Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Mandelson, revoked his licence. He was released again in 2002 and returned to Belfast.

In 2003, he moved to Scotland amid a violent loyalist feud and has lived there ever since.

In 2002, aged 18, Jonathan Adair was shot in the legs in what was reported at the time to be a punishment, sanctioned by his father, for anti social behaviour.

Johnny Adair Snr told the Irish News that the family were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy and were awaiting further information on the cause of death. “I can’t really say much at the minute because we just don’t know what happened until we hear back from the police,” he said.

Scottish newspaper the Troon Times reported that Jonathan Adair Jnr had recently been released from prison having previously served time for motoring offences at HMP Bowhouse in Kilmarnock.

It said that he was due to stand trial on drugs charges after allegedly being caught in possession of cannabis resin during a search at Kilmarnock prison.

A police spokesperson said: “Around 5.15pm on Saturday, September 10, 2016, police received a report of the body of a man having been found within a property in Templehill, Troon. A post-mortem will be carried out in due course.”