I've been in and out of ADJ many times over the last 5 years and...

I've been in and out of ADJ many times over the last 5 years and more than 1 occasion I would see directors buying and selling think, geez if the director is selling / buying should I.

Never actually made a trade but almost every time there was a corresponding increase or decrease with the share price within a few months.

It would only be illegal if they acted on a specific bit of information that directly affected the share price (insider trading). But they would know for sure what the coming 12 - 24 months will be like how that would affect the share price. You wouldn't be a very good director if you didn't!