MI5 foiled plot to murder Johnny Adair

THREE men have today been found guilty of conspiring to murder former terrorist boss Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair.

Antoin Duffy, Martin Hughes and Paul Sands were also convicted for plotting to kill Ulster Defence Association leading figure Sam ‘Skelly’ McCrory, one of Adair’s closest allies.

Two other men – Craig Convery and Gordon Brown – were found guilty of being involved in organised crime.

The plot was uncovered during a covert MI5 undercover surveillance operation.

Duffy and Gorman were also accused of planning the murder of former Barlinnie Prison governor Derek McGill with a car bomb.

The four men denied all the charges.

They also denied a charge of joining others with the “intention of committing acts of terrorism”.

Prosecutors say Duffy, 38, Hughes, 35, Sands, 31, and Gorman, 57, along with unnamed individuals, plotted to kill Adair and McCrory between August 2010 and October last year.

Locations where the plans were allegedly discussed included high-security HMP Shotts and a flat in Old Castle Road in Glasgow’s Shawlands.

It is claimed “surveillance and reconnaissance” was carried out on Mr Adair and Mr McCrory.

The charges includes accusations there were plans “of where and by what means” each man “was to be murdered”.

Three other men, Craig Convery, Gary Convery and Gordon Brown faced charges concerned with the alleged conspiracies. Theyalso pleaded not guilty.

Belfast Daily revealed last year that Adair was warned about the plot by police after he stepped off a plan in Glasgow.

He had just returned from a holiday in Spain where he was celebrating his 50th birthday with close family and friends.