Disgraced terror chief plans life outside Ireland after conviction for gun running

Sunday World

21-06-2025

It is the latest blow in what has been the most dramatic fall from grace of any loyalist paramilitary leader.
The disgraced former UVF commander has accepted it will be difficult for him to return to his previous life.
And fanciful notions that he would be able to pick up where he left off and resume control of 'B' Company are now in tatters.
His expulsion from the UVF put paid to any notion of a comeback and now in a fresh blow to the convicted gun runner and suspected British agent, his hopes of a new life away from Belfast have been put on hold.
He now faces the prospect of his 30-month sentence being increased after the Public Prosecution Service decreed the tariff is unduly lenient.
It is the latest blow in what has been the most dramatic fall from grace of any loyalist paramilitary leader.
The Sunday World understands he has confided in family and friends that he will seek to make a fresh start outside Northern Ireland.
Irvine has said he does not see how he can make a safe return to live in Belfast and is believed to be concerned about his personal security while in prison.
John 'Bunter' Graham
There had been speculation he could be moved to the wing housing sex offenders and vulnerable inmates.
The Sunday World understands there are no plans as yet for that to happen. He is currently being housed on the loyalist wing and an order issued by the UVF's Shankill leadership that he is to be left alone, stands.
The majority of UVF prisoners in Maghaberry no longer swear allegiance to the organisation, many of them having been stood down including the five jailed for the murder of Ian Ogle and those serving 30 years for the sectarian murder of schoolboy Thomas Devlin.
Sources have told us Irvine feels 'vulnerable'.
The consequences of his fall from grace continue to play out. Last week the Sunday World revealed 'Harmless' Harry Stockman is now in the firing line after going behind the back of Chief of Staff John 'Bunter' Graham in an attempt to save Winkie's skin.
We now understand the man credited with compiling the internal report, senior veteran loyalist Gerry Vinton has come under suspicion by UVF members.
According to sources, secretive Vinton has long been close to Graham and was tasked to compile a dossier into Irvine's behaviour during his time as B Company and commander and subsequently. Vinton has previously denied any involvement in criminality and paramilitarism.
Vinton and Irvine were at loggerheads but despite allegedly being the leading architect in Irvine's downfall, there is a feeling he is Bunter's patsy under orders to get rid of a problem and save the UVF leadership from closer inspection.
Well placed sources have told us that the membership will not stop at Irvine's expulsion. They want Stockman out and are now questioning the content of Vinton's report.
Harry Stockman
'Irvine was thrown aside to save the command staff,' one source told us.
'Vinton was Bunter's eyes and ears, he knew everything and in turn everything Irvine did Bunter and Stockman knew about it because it was lining their pockets.
'If they think getting rid of Irvine is where it ends they've another thing coming. There was nothing independent or objective about this so called report, his mission was to heap it all on Irvine.'
The disquiet in UVF ranks could lead to the biggest shake up at the top for years. A vote of no confidence in Stockman has been proposed and question marks hang over the future of Chief of Staff Graham.
Alleged Shankill commander Sam Austin is the preferred choice of the rank and file to take the reigns, although others are advocating an Army Council style leadership.
Meanwhile this week the PPS have recommended that the sentence handed down to Irvine should be extended.
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: '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.
The sentence must not just be lenient, but must be unduly lenient.
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'.
The PPS said it would not be appealing the five year jail term handed to co-accused Robin Workman.
The pair were arrested in June 2022 after police intercepted Irvine and their search of his car uncovered a cache of guns and ammunition.