Former UDA commander Johnny Adair has described the IRA as “the best guerrilla warfare army there has ever been” and spoken about his respect for republican hunger strikers.
The former ‘C Company’ boss made the claim during a podcast with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
During the conversation Robinson said: “I’ve seen the IRA described as the best guerrilla warfare army there has ever been”, which prompted an unexpected response from Adair.
“Their bombmaking technology was a step ahead of the British Army, the army tried to keep ahead of them and the IRA was always in front,” he said.
“Even the hunger strikers, I grudgingly respect them men too, they starved themselves to death for a political cause, dedication at the highest level.
“Now I’m dedicated, and I knew one day I could lose my life and the IRA would get me, and I accepted that because I didn’t know what day it would be.
“These hunger strikers, death was staring themmuns in the face for 60-odd days. If I was asked to give my life on hunger strike? No I wouldn’t do it, I wouldn’t have been as brave to do that.
“I was willing to accept that the IRA might kill me but I couldn’t see it coming, they’re sneaking up behind me or riddling my car, it’s unexpected.
“But these men knew what they were doing, volunteered to die and starved themselves for a political cause.”
Adair was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1995 for directing terrorism and was released in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement.
