 The suggestion that Spence was a high-ranking informer raised some anger, and for Mo Courtney the only solution was to kill Spence.Adair refused to sanction the killing, as he remained on good terms with Spence and felt that he was loyal, and the incident helped to drive a wedge between Adair and Courtney.Adair finally broke from Spence in 2003 when South Belfast Brigadier Jackie McDonald purged the Shankill of C Company and Adair's supporters.