UDA expels Adair associate

White looked on as Adair ripped up UDA statement

The loyalist paramilitary UDA has said it has expelled John White, a close ally of Johnny Adair, the brigadier kicked out of the organisation on Wednesday.

Adair, convicted of directing terrorism, was the Ulster Defence Association's west Belfast brigade commander, where he leads its so-called C Company in the Lower Shankill area.

He was expelled by the UDA's five other brigadiers, who said he had put the organisation in an impossible position because of links he was fostering with the rival Loyalist Volunteer Force.

Adair continued to forge close links with the LVF following its attempt to murder a senior UDA member Jim Gray in east Belfast in retaliation for the murder of LVF leader Stephen Warnock.

John White said Adair still commanded support

On Friday, the UDA leadership issued a statement saying that it had no choice but to "also expel the former commander's close ally and media spokesperson".

White, a convicted murderer, who was a member of the now-defunct Ulster Democratic Party, was one of the first to back him after his expulsion.

And he protested against the decision of the organisation's north, south and east Belfast and South East Antrim and North Antrim and Londonderry brigades not to invite Adair or his west Belfast brigade members to the meeting.

'Majority support'

The UDA leaders added: "The inner council reiterate in the strongest possible terms that they have no difficulties with the other members of their organisation in west Belfast and, contrary to some reports, remain confident that those measures are supported by the vast majority of the community in that area.

"The UDA remains united, determined and confident in the course of action they have decided upon."

However, reacting to the latest UDA statement, John White said he still had the support of loyalists in west Belfast and he said he would not be "deterred from our policies in west Belfast".

The police have been braced for trouble in the loyalist community following Adair's expulsion.

On Friday, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said extra officers were in the streets of Belfast to stop loyalists shooting each other.