An Ayr man and former Ulster terrorist has been found dead outside his Kincaidston flat after previously fleeing Loyalist feuding in Northern Ireland.

Sam McCrory, a former member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) was found injured in the common close area in a flat at Stonecrop Place, Ayr at around 5.45pm on Sunday [July 24].

Police confirmed the 57-year-old was taken to Crosshouse Hospital but died a short time later. 

Officers do not believe there were any suspicious circumstances but are treating the death as unexplained - after reports that Mr McCrory fell and injured his head on concrete.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "At around 5.45pm on Sunday, July 24, officers received a report of a 57-year-old man found with injuries within the common close of a property in Stonecrop Place, Ayr.

"The man was taken to Crosshouse Hospital but died a short time later.

"The death is currently being treated as unexplained, however there does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances at this stage, and enquiries are continuing.

"A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."

Mr McCrory previously fled to Scotland, alongside infamous C Company boss Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair and others, amid an ongoing Loyalist feud in the early 2000s.

Openly gay McCrory regularly attended Pride parades in the UK later in his life - also appearing in an episode of Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men on Sky, in which he described Ayr as a "brilliant wee town".

He added: "Brilliant mate. People here are really really nice. Nice folk."