Latest news with #WinstonIrvine
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
'Loyalist paramilitary transitioning has failed' ex-watchdog says
The process aimed at disbanding loyalist paramilitary groups has failed, a former security watchdog has told BBC Northern Ireland's Spotlight Alderdice, the former Alliance Party leader who was a member of the Independent Monitoring Commission, said talks about loyalist transition should was responding to the arrest and conviction on firearms charges of Winston Irvine, who worked as an interlocutor with the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), which represents mainstream loyalist groups.A senior LCC source told Spotlight that loyalist transition is on course to be concluded this autumn, with an announcement of the complete dismantling of all paramilitary structures. Irvine, of Ballysillan Road in north Belfast, was a well-known community worker before being given a two and a half year sentence over guns and ammunition found in the boot of his car in Public Prosecution Service (PPS) is appealing the sentence for being "unduly lenient".Irvine's conviction has returned attention to loyalist funding and paramilitary up in 2015, the LCC says it represents a loyalist leadership committed to transition, the scaling back of criminality and ultimately disbandment.A source in the organisation told Spotlight that Winston Irvine has been instrumental in moving the mainstream Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) away from criminality, and that a final push for loyalist transition is imminent. Lord Alderdice spent seven years on the Independent Monitoring Commission, which was given access to secret intelligence to report on paramilitary activities, before it was wound up in said the transition process is "not working". "A halt should be called, and you can't call a halt now sooner than today."There comes a point when you have to say no, this hasn't been delivered."It's not going to be delivered. And, actually, by continuing we are making it worse."Lord Alderdice told the programme he does not believe the loyalist paramilitaries are making a genuine effort to transition away from criminality."What I've seen is more talking about transition, and transformation, and no doubt with an invoice provided, for how much money is needed to be made available from public services in order to pay off these people." Cathy McIlvenny's sister, Lorraine, was murdered by UDA members in previously told Spotlight, in 2013, that she dealt with Winston Irvine when he arranged a punishment shooting of her nephew, Craig, in believes the sentence given to Irvine is not enough, and says loyalist paramilitaries will continue as long as funding is still available."They're just being given money to keep them quiet and make it look to the rest of the world now that the British government has solved the Northern Ireland problem."But, it hasn't. It's made it worse for the communities."In 2013 it was alleged to Spotlight that Winston Irvine was a UVF leader, something which he has denied as "preposterous". No explanation was given in court as to why Irvine and his co-accused had the the arrest, police discovered UVF paraphernalia in Irvine's home, and that of his co-accused Robin in sentencing, Judge Gordon Kerr KC concluded the movement of weapons had not been directly connected to terrorism.54-year-old, Workman, of Shore Road in Larne, was sentenced to five years - the minimum custodial sentence, which the PPS said it would not be guns were found by covert police six weeks after a hoax bomb, which targeted a peace event in Belfast attended by then Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney in March said UVF involvement in the hoax attack was a primary line of inquiry. Prior to his arrest and conviction, Winston Irvine spent more than a decade as a paid community role gave him access to high-level contacts and enhanced his credibility as a peace 49-year-old, who received a number of supportive character references during the case, provided a pre-prepared statement in which he claimed to be a "trusted interlocutor" in community relations and the peace his arrest sent shock waves through the British and Irish governments because of how they often rely on community workers to engage with loyalist his arrest, Irvine was suspended from his role at the north Belfast community group Intercomm Ireland, in line with its internal disciplinary left the organisation several months said it was "difficult to convey the impact" the case had on its team who were "shocked, disappointed and felt let down" by Winston Irvine's actions.A statement added that "significant reorganisation (was) required to continue to deliver on our commitments to projects and fulfil obligations to funders and to the community".But Irvine continued to work on funded projects in unionist and loyalist areas while on bail for the weapons charges.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Belfast loyalist Winston Irvine's sentence referred to Court of Appeal
A sentence handed to leading Belfast loyalist Winston Irvine has been referred to the Court of Appeal. Irvine was sentenced to two-and-a-half years, with half to be served in jail, at Belfast Crown Court last month following an incident where firearms and ammunition were found in the boot of his car. The 49-year-old avoided a statutory five-year sentence on several of the charges he faced after Judge Gordon Kerr KC ruled that there were 'exceptional circumstances' in his case, namely Irvine's 'work for peace and his charity work in the community'. However, there was criticism by several political figures, including First Minister Michelle O'Neill, that the sentence had been too lenient. On Friday it was announced that Northern Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron was referring the sentence to the Court of Appeal. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed the referral has been lodged with the Court of Appeal. 'While sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions does have the power to refer particular sentences to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that they may be unduly lenient,' a PPS spokesperson said. 'An unduly lenient sentence is one that falls outside the range of sentences that a judge, taking into consideration all relevant factors and having regard to sentencing guidance, could reasonably impose. The sentence must not just be lenient but unduly lenient. 'After careful consideration of the sentence handed down in the case of Winston Irvine, including with the benefit of advices from independent Senior Counsel, we have determined that there is a sufficient legal basis to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.' They said consideration was also given to the sentence handed down to Irvine's co-accused Adam Robinson Workman, 54, who was sentenced to five years imprisonment. But they said following careful consideration, it was determined that there was no legal basis on which to refer Workman's sentence to the Court of Appeal as potentially unduly lenient.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Winston Irvine 'unduly lenient' sentence to be appealed
The sentence given to Winston Irvine was unduly lenient and should be extended, according to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Irvine, 49, from Ballysillan Road in north Belfast, was given a two-and-a-half year sentence last month after admitting to firearm and ammunition offences. The sentence was half the minimum recommended term, with the judge citing "exceptional circumstances". The PPS said it will now appeal the sentence. Irvine's sentence – half of which is to be served on licence – was below the minimum sentence of five years and attracted criticism from some politicians. A spokesperson for the PPS told the BBC's The Nolan Show: "After careful consideration of the sentence handed down in the case of Winston Irvine, including with the benefit of advices from independent Senior Counsel, we have determined that there is a sufficient legal basis to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal." The PPS referral has now been lodged with the Court of Appeal. Irvine is currently serving his sentence on the segregated UVF wing at Maghaberry high security prison. During sentencing Judge Gordon Kerr KC said despite Irvine's guilty plea, he had declined to give any explanation to the police or the court for having the guns and bullets in the boot of his car. However, the judge said he did not consider the crimes to be connected to terrorism. The judge cited Irvine's "character and long-term commitment to peace building in Northern Ireland" among exceptional circumstances relating to the case. The court was told he had worked at the highest levels of government and had "devoted most of his adult life to peace". Court documents released to The Nolan Show revealed the extent of the character references provided to the court. They include letters from Loyalist Communities Council chair David Campbell, former Policing Board member and director of Northern Ireland Alternatives Deborah Watters, Gary Mason a Methodist Minister, as well as Dr Harold Good . The PPS said it would not be appealing the five year jail term handed to co-accused Robin Workman. Winston Irvine pleads guilty to firearms offences Winston Irvine sentence is 'too lenient', says first minister Winston Irvine to stand trial over gun charges
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Belfast loyalist Winston Irvine's sentence referred to Court of Appeal
A sentence handed to leading Belfast loyalist Winston Irvine has been referred to the Court of Appeal. Irvine was sentenced to two-and-a-half years, with half to be served in jail, at Belfast Crown Court last month following an incident where firearms and ammunition were found in the boot of his car. The 49-year-old avoided a statutory five-year sentence on several of the charges he faced after Judge Gordon Kerr KC ruled that there were 'exceptional circumstances' in his case, namely Irvine's 'work for peace and his charity work in the community'. However, there was criticism by several political figures, including First Minister Michelle O'Neill, that the sentence had been too lenient. The Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron is to refer the sentence imposed on Winston Irvine (49) last month in respect of a number of firearms and ammunition offences to the Court of Appeal. Please visit our website for the full statementhttps:// — Public Prosecution Service (@thePPSNI) June 13, 2025 On Friday it was announced that Northern Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron was referring the sentence to the Court of Appeal. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed the referral has been lodged with the Court of Appeal. 'While sentencing is a matter for the independent judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions does have the power to refer particular sentences to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that they may be unduly lenient,' a PPS spokesperson said. 'An unduly lenient sentence is one that falls outside the range of sentences that a judge, taking into consideration all relevant factors and having regard to sentencing guidance, could reasonably impose. The sentence must not just be lenient but unduly lenient. 'After careful consideration of the sentence handed down in the case of Winston Irvine, including with the benefit of advices from independent Senior Counsel, we have determined that there is a sufficient legal basis to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.' They said consideration was also given to the sentence handed down to Irvine's co-accused Adam Robinson Workman, 54, who was sentenced to five years imprisonment. But they said following careful consideration, it was determined that there was no legal basis on which to refer Workman's sentence to the Court of Appeal as potentially unduly lenient.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Winston Irvine 'unduly lenient' sentence to be appealed
The sentence given to Winston Irvine was unduly lenient and should be extended, according to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).Irvine, 49, from Ballysillan Road in north Belfast, was given a two-and-a-half year sentence last month after admitting to firearm and ammunition sentence was half the minimum recommended term, with the judge citing "exceptional circumstances".The PPS said it will now appeal the sentence. Irvine's sentence – half of which is to be served on licence – was below the minimum sentence of five years and attracted criticism from some politicians.A spokesperson for the PPS told the BBC's The Nolan Show: "After careful consideration of the sentence handed down in the case of Winston Irvine, including with the benefit of advices from independent Senior Counsel, we have determined that there is a sufficient legal basis to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal."The PPS referral has now been lodged with the Court of Appeal. Irvine is currently serving his sentence on the segregated UVF wing at Maghaberry high security sentencing Judge Gordon Kerr KC said despite Irvine's guilty plea, he had declined to give any explanation to the police or the court for having the guns and bullets in the boot of his the judge said he did not consider the crimes to be connected to judge cited Irvine's "character and long-term commitment to peace building in Northern Ireland" among exceptional circumstances relating to the court was told he had worked at the highest levels of government and had "devoted most of his adult life to peace".Court documents released to The Nolan Show revealed the extent of the character references provided to the include letters from Loyalist Communities Council chair David Campbell, former Policing Board member and director of Northern Ireland Alternatives Deborah Watters, Gary Mason a Methodist Minister, as well as Dr Harold Good .The PPS said it would not be appealing the five year jail term handed to co-accused Robin Workman.
