Winston Irvine jailed for firearm offences

The high-profile loyalist Winston Irvine has been given a two and a half year sentence after he previously admitted a range of firearm and ammunition offences.

The 49-year-old of Ballysillan Road in north Belfast will spend half of his sentence in custody and half on licence.

At Belfast Crown Court, his co-accused Robin Workman, 54, of Shore Road, Larne was also sentenced to five years; half to be served on licence.

Both men previously pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

They also admitted two counts of possessing a handgun without a certificate, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing a firearm without a certificate.

Workman further pleaded guilty to possessing an air rifle without a certificate.

All the offences were committed on 8 June 2022.

The police told a previous court hearing that Workman transported a quantity of weapons and ammunition to the Glencairn area of Belfast in his van.

Officers believed the weapons were then put into the boot of Irvine's Tiguan car.

A short time later Irvine's vehicle was stopped by police in Disraeli Street.

A long-barrelled firearm, two suspected pistols, several magazines and a large quantity of ammunition were discovered inside a holdall in the boot.

Irvine made no comment during police interviews.

He provided a prepared statement claiming: "I have developed a reputation as a trusted interlocutor engaging with the community on key outstanding issues in relation to the NI peace and political process."

During sentencing Judge Gordon Kerr KC said despites Irvine's guilty plea, he had declined to give any explanation to the police or the court.

However, the judge said he did not consider the crimes to be connected to terrorism.

He also told the court he did not consider it proper to impose the statutory minimum sentence for five years due to Irvine's circumstances.

"I'm obliged to consider if the defendant is dangerous. There are no examples on his record," he said.

The judge said he also considered previous references which described Irvine's "character and long-term commitment to peace building in Northern Ireland".

The court was told Mr Irvine had worked with the highest levels of government and that he had "devoted most of his adult life to peace".

Sentencing Workman, the judge 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 men were led from the dock in handcuffs into custody.

After the hearing, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (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."