'Mad Dog' Adair's son held after drugs raids
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The son of Northern Ireland paramilitary Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair was arrested yesterday during a series of drug raids in the Bolton area of Greater Manchester, where he and his family have been seeking refuge from loyalist in-fighting.
Jonathan Adair, 19, was arrested on suspicion of drugs offences along with a 22-year-old man at a hotel on the M61 in Anderton, Cheshire. Police also arrested a 32-year-old woman; a 13-year-old boy; an 18-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man after raids on five houses.
Five imitation handguns, including a fake M-16 assault rifle and four fake handguns, were also seized during the raids. Greater Manchester Police carried out the operations just after 6am as part of a three-month investigation codenamed Operation Margate into alleged drug dealing by associates of Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) leader Mr Adair, who lives in the area.
The Adairs moved to Greater Manchester in search of refuge in March, following the execution of Ulster Defence Association (UDA) commander John Gregg. Some 50 members of Mr Adair's notorious C Company of the UFF, the UDA's killing squad, have joined them in the north east of England. In April, five shots were fired at Mr Adair's wife Gina Adair's house in Horwich, Greater Manchester. A UDA faction later admitted responsibility.