Winston Irvine 'unduly lenient' sentence to be appealed
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
4 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Almost 500 potential victims of human trafficking identified in Northern Ireland
Almost 500 potential victims of modern human trafficking were identified in Northern Ireland over the last year, a new report has found. The Annual Report and Threat Assessment for the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) says that the 496 potential victims, 338 males and 158 females, were referred to the National Referral Mechanism, a UK framework to identify and support victims. Advertisement The figure represented a slight decrease on the previous financial year (2022/23), when 530 referrals were received, however the general trend was described as remaining upward. The Organised Crime Task Force's annual results have been welcomed by @Justice_NI Minister Naomi Long. Further information and the full report is available on the Department's website — Justice NI (@Justice_NI) August 7, 2025 It also records that during the financial year 2023-24 some 61 organised crime groups operating in Northern Ireland were being investigated by PSNI. These gangs were assessed as working alongside others across the UK, Republic of Ireland and other parts of Europe. There were 222 arrests by PSNI related to organised crime groups, 8,472 drug seizures, and 187 restraint orders, cash seizures, lifted assets and account freezing orders were made. Advertisement Cocaine was the most seized Class A drug in Northern Ireland, accounting for 94% of all incidents involving Class A drugs. Meanwhile the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) recorded 427 cyber crime reports in Northern Ireland, most relating to the hacking of social media and email accounts, with reported losses of £263,300. However this figure was described as 'likely to be a significant underestimation', with under-reporting an issue. Justice Minister Naomi Long hailed 'another year of excellent results'. Advertisement 'I am grateful for all the agencies involved in delivering another year of excellent results and for their continued, relentless efforts to tackle organised criminality and seize the proceeds of crime,' she said. 'Organised crime groups show no regard for the harm they are causing to individuals and communities, they are only interested in lining their own pockets. 'As the results of OCTF partner agencies' joint operations show, the harm caused to individuals and communities by these criminals will not be tolerated.' She added: 'It is assessed that 75% of organised crime groups are involved in the supply of drugs, so police alone seizing drugs with an estimated street value of £21m, with Border Force and National Crime Agency involved in further seizures, is a significant blow to these groups. Advertisement 'The excellent work and persistence in pursuing criminals who set out to exploit, threaten and spread misery across communities should not be underestimated, but everybody's help is needed to combat organised crime.'
BreakingNews.ie
6 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Pensioner dies after house fire in Co Tyrone
A pensioner has died following a house fire in Co Tyrone. The woman, aged in her 70s, died following the blaze at a residential property in the Derrycush Park area of Aughnacloy on Wednesday evening. Advertisement A police spokesperson said officers were called shortly after 6pm and attended alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. 'Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze but, sadly, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene,' they said. 'Inquiries are ongoing; however at this stage, it is not believed that the death is suspicious.' Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew described the news as 'absolutely heartbreaking'. Advertisement 'I want to express my condolences to the family, friends and neighbours of this woman, who now face extremely difficult days and weeks ahead,' he said. 'The community is in shock today, but I have no doubt they will rally around to support the woman's loved ones in the time ahead.'
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Aughnacloy: Elderly woman dies in house fire
A woman in her 70s has died following a house fire in County happened shortly after 18:00 BST on Wednesday in the Derrycush Park area of extinguished the blaze, but a woman was pronounced dead at the into the cause of the fire are ongoing, but the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said her death is not believed to be suspicious.
