The increasingly bizarre story of Johnny Adair took another twist yesterday with renewed claims that the former UDA leader is planning a legal challenge to the decision to return him to jail.
There can be no doubt that secretary of state Paul Murphy acted correctly when he sent Adair back behind bars last week.
The only surprising aspect was that action was not taken at an earlier stage in the wake of the upsurge in criminality which surrounded the Shankill loyalist wherever he went.
Adair has now been ordered back into custody on two occasions following his initial release on licence from the Maze, after he had served half of a 16-year sentence for directing terrorism.
He may claim he has been victimised, but his links with extortion, drug dealing and most recently the vicious feud within loyalism have been well documented.
As matters stand, he is due to be finally released from prison in January 2005.
The authorities should not simply wait until this date before deciding what to do next, but should ensure that all the firm evidence necessary to bring further charges against Adair is compiled.
He deserves to be prosecuted for his activities and to receive the kind of sentence which will act as a deterrent to others.
Suggestions that Adair will be targeted in jail by his former colleagues need to be treated very seriously.
If he needs to be held in virtual isolation throughout his time in prison, so be it.
