Enemies Within: The Explosive True Story of Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair, Northern Ireland’s Most Infamous Paramilitary Godfather

by Aaron Edwards

‘Three things come with taking a man’s life. The first one is the easy bit – going into a room and shooting somebody… The second is preparing yourself if you get caught coming or going and getting life in prison – could you do it? And the third and final and most important is can you live with it for the rest of your life? And that’s where a lot of people fail.’ With these chilling words we are afforded a glimpse into the mind of Northern Ireland’s most infamous paramilitary godfather, Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair.

Enemies Within explores Adair’s rise from neo-Nazi skinhead to leader of the notorious Ulster Freedom Fighters, a cover-name for the assassination wing of the Ulster Defence Association, a Protestant paramilitary group that killed hundreds of people during the Troubles.

With unprecedented access to Adair and his associates, critically acclaimed author and counter-terrorism expert Aaron Edwards paints a vivid picture of how the loyalist godfather built up an extensive terror network that was at one time responsible for more deaths than the IRA. Using his extensive contacts in the paramilitary underworld and security services, Edwards reveals for the first time the inside story of the race against time to bring down Adair in a bid to save the peace process, not once but three times. He also discovers startling new evidence of how attempts to remove Adair with informers inadvertently ushered in a return of UDA gangsterism that continues to pose serious challenges to peace and stability in Northern Ireland today.

Enemies Within is the gripping, no-holds-barred story of loyalty, murder and betrayal.

Genres: Ireland

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2026

About the author

Welcome to my Goodreads Page!

I’m a reader first and a writer second.

My several books include the critically acclaimed Mad Mitch’s Tribal Law: Aden and the End of Empire (Transworld Books, 2014; paperback 2015) and UVF: Behind the Mask (Merrion Press, 2017).

I have taught in the Faculty for the Study of Leadership, Security and Warfare at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst since 2008, traveling the world to instruct on global security challenges, including terrorism, war and peace.

In my spare time beyond reading, writing and teaching I love walking, trekking and running.

Reviews

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written and researched book . More enjoyable and informative than I expected.. Balanced and clearly shows the high levels of collusion, corruption and lack of respect for life during the troubles.
A good read if interested in recent Irish history in the North.