New UVF chiefs stamp authority by torching Catholic man's property
'This attack is the UVF's new leaders telling the community that things aren't going to change'
The burnt cars and shed, and right, Alan Cowan who has taken over the Larne UVF temporarily while Workman is in prison
Larne UVF flexed their muscles this week after their leader Robin Workman was jailed by torching the car of a Catholic man, we can reveal.
The paramilitary gang set fire to a car belonging to a man who had a run-in with Workman over an unpaid debt before the 54-year-old was jailed for five years on Tuesday for having a bag of guns and ammunition which he gave to leading loyalist Winkie Irvine.
The gang also set fire to another vehicle in the same area which is understood to belong to the man's elderly parents.
Today's News in 90 Seconds.
Sources in the town say the timing of the attacks was very deliberate and designed to show the community the UVF still run the town despite their leader being banged-up.
And they say Workman ordered the arson attack himself as he wanted to remind people he was still in charge.
But we can reveal the man who has stepped into the shoes of their caged leader temporarily is his number two in the Larne UVF and notorious loan shark, Alan Cowan.
The burnt cars and shed
The 48-year-old, an associate of the notorious UVF double agent Mark Haddock, was previously named in court by police as being 'highly influential' in the UVF and 'involved in the UVF'.
Two weeks ago we revealed how people in Larne were celebrating after Robin Workman was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing for having a stack of firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances in June 2022.
They told us Workman had been portraying a false image of himself for years – that of a decent man with a legitimate business in the building trade.
But they say the truth was very different and that Workman was a bully who made people's lives a misery as his gang exploited people through loan-sharking and extortion rackets.
'They just randomly fine men and young fellas thousands of pounds. If they answer back or question it, more money is added on to their bill.'
So there was joy amongst the community when Workman was sent to Maghaberry Prison and will now serve two-and-a-half years behind bars with the same amount served on licence afterwards.
Robin Workman
But those celebrations were short-lived as the new boss appears to be very much the same as the old boss and wanted to stamp his authority.
The Sunday World understands the target of the UVF arsonist was the Catholic man who the UVF said owed them money and had already been subjected to an assault at a local social club.
'This guy is a Catholic man but he's popular and well-liked by both sides of the community – he wasn't targeted because of his religion,' said a source.
'Seemingly it was because he had started a relationship with a woman who had been the partner of a UVF man.
'Robin Workman told him he had to pay a £2.5K debt for that but he didn't pay. The man questioned it to others and called Workman a few names but it was reported back.
'Then someone walked into the social club and punched him in the face and added two-and-a-half grand to the bill.
'Now Workman is behind bars they have targeted his car and shed. They even set fire to his parents car which people are particularly angry about because they are elderly.
'This is the new leaders making a statement to the community that nothing is going to change and the UVF isn't going to leave them alone just because their boss is behind bars.
'It's disgusting – people are fed-up with the lot of them and wish they would just leave people to live in peace.'
The burnt cars and shed
Cowan was arrested in 2017 as part of a police investigation into a feud which had seen a number of homes attacked by masked men.
It was during this that police described him in court as being high up in the UVF however his solicitor said Cowan strongly denied any such involvement with the terror group.
But multiple sources have told the Sunday World that Cowan is the new UVF leader and was regarded as an enforcer – sent to collect unpaid debts.
A PSNI spokesperson told the Sunday World: 'Police received a report of a car on fire in the Garron Walk area of Larne shortly before 11.40pm on Wednesday, May 21.
'Officers attended, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. The fire spread to a second vehicle, a fence and a shed. A car at a neighbouring property was also damaged.
'Thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries, although residents have been left shaken. This is being treated as arson, and enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.
'Anyone with information, including dashcam, CCTV or other video footage is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 2092 of 21/5/25.'
Alan Cowan who has taken over the Larne UVF temporarily while Workman is in prison
Sentencing Workman at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Gordon Kerr KC said there was no history of offending or causing serious harm.
But he added "there is no evidence of any exceptional circumstances" and the statutory minimum sentence must be imposed.
Both Workman and Irvine were led from the dock in handcuffs into custody.
After the hearing, the PSNI released photos of one of the guns and some of the ammunition seized from Irvine's car.
'Illegal firearms are synonymous with violence', said Det Supt Moutray, from the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch.
'We are committed to apprehending perpetrators and this demonstrates our commitment towards keeping people safe from the fear, intimidation and control illegal firearms can cause.'
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