Death plot suspect ‘had been humouring his cousin’

A MURDER plot accused was “humouring” his cousin during a bugged conservation and was not part of a plan to kill Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair, his QC told a jury.

Gordon Jackson was giving his closing speech in the trial of Martin Hughes, 36, who is charged alongside Antoin Duffy, 39, and Paul Sands, 32, with plotting to murder Mr Adair and Sam McCrory – once high-profile figures in the loyalist organisation the UDA. The three deny the charges. Mr Duffy and Mr Hughes also deny terrorism charges.

Mr Jackson told the jury: “The Crown says he is one of the conspirators and he says he did not agree to enter into a conspiracy to murder anyone. Conspiracy is entering into an agreement to commit a specific crime, it is not just agreeing with someone for the sake of it.”

The QC told the jurors: “There needs to be more than that probability.

“What you have here is Mr Hughes agreeing with his cousin Mr Duffy just to keep him happy.

“He’s not a Republican, he’s a great man for the Queen and the royalty.”

Mr Jackson said that Mr Hughes’s main concern after a trip from Glasgow to Ayrshire to allegedly carry out reconnaissance at Mr McCrory’s home was getting his petrol money.

Mr Jackson urged the jury to acquit Mr Hughes on the charges he faces.

Donald Findlay, QC, representing Mr Sands, urged the jury to acquit Mr Sands.

Two other men, Craig Convery, 37, and Gordon Brown, 29, are also on trial accused of charges of being involved in organised crime. They deny the charges against them.

The trial before judge Lady Scott continues.