THE eldest son of former UDA boss Johnny Adair has been found dead in a house in Scotland.
Jonathan Adair (31), who was once subject to a paramilitary-style shooting on the orders of his father, was discovered at a property in Troon on Saturday.
He had only been released from custody on bail on Friday after a period on remand for minor drugs charges and there has been speculation his death is drugs-related.
Johnny Adair, who fled Northern Ireland in 2003 following a violent loyalist feud, 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.
Jonathan Adair had been living in Scotland close to his father since the family were forced to flee their lower Shankill home following the murder of loyalist leader John 'Grugg' Gregg.
He at first lived in Bolton with his mother Gina before moving north and settling in Troon.
His father was the first person in Northern Ireland charged with directing terrorism and was jailed for life in 1995. His UDA unit are believed to have been responsible for more than 40 murders under his leadership.
Adair was released from prison in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement but had his licence revoked in 2000 after the Secretary of State said he was involved in paramilitary activity.
He was released again in 2002 and returned to the lower Shankill where family and friends, including then 17-year-old son Jonathan, held a street party.
The following year Jonathan was shot in both legs in an attack said to have been ordered by his father after becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.
He suffered flesh wounds and released himself from hospital after just a few hours.
Since then he had been convicted of a series of driving and drugs-related crimes, but had settled with a partner in Scotland and was a father to a three-year-old son.
Police Scotland said they were called to the property at Templehill, Troon at 5.15pm on Saturday where the body of 31-year-old man was discovered: "A post mortem will be carried out. The cause of death is 'unexplained' at this time".
