‘Winkie' Irvine under threat of violent attack from loyalist faction in jail
Jailed loyalist leader Winston 'Winkie' Irvine is under threat from a violent attack behind bars, sources have told the Sunday World.
And we can exclusively reveal that paramilitary prisoners currently housed near Irvine in HMP Maghaberry are planning to 'give him a message he won't forget'.
The threat is believed to have been issued by associates of ousted UVF men from east Belfast who blame Irvine for their expulsion from the paramilitary organisation.
'Winkie will need to watch his step every inch of the way while he's in jail. The men from the east have fingered him for waging a campaign to discredit Stephen Matthews,' said a well-placed east Belfast loyalist source.
Last night the Sunday World made the PSNI aware of the alleged threat against 49-year-old Irvine from Ballysillan Road, who is currently serving out a two-and-a-half-year sentence after he was caught with a bag of guns and ammunition in his car.
Earlier this week police released dramatic film footage of Irvine's arrest in June 2022, alongside his co-accused, 54-year-old Robin Workman of Shore Road, Larne, who was later jailed for five years – half of which will be served on licence.
Winston 'Winkie' Irvine in police custody
Police bodycam shows the moment Winkie Irvine is arrested
The East Belfast faction of the UVF was expelled by the terror group's Shankill Road leadership on Remembrance Sunday 2023.
A masked UVF volunteer read out a statement in front of 1,000 UVF-linked loyalists who had earlier that morning paraded in honour of the war dead.
A similar statement was read out at other UVF-controlled venues, including one off the Newtownards Road in east Belfast.
Source claim veteran loyalist Stephen Matthews was replaced by a new leader installed with the blessing of the Shankill leadership controlled by veteran UVF men John 'Bunter' Graham and 'Harmless Harry' Stockman. Matthews has previously denied being involved in both criminality and paramilitarism.
And moves were also made to take complete control of UVF arms dumps in the east of the city.
Stephen Matthews
Matthews was made aware in no uncertain terms that he wasn't under any physical threat as long as he 'steered well clear' of UVF military hardware, according to sources.
It is claimed he was further warned that any attempt to push back against the Shankill Road ruling, would be met with an immediate and violent reaction.
For a number of years, Matthews was alleged to have run a criminal gang which it was claimed used the UVF name as cover for a range of activities, including drug dealing and extortion.
Traditionally known as the UVF 4th Battalion, its east Belfast territory ran from the Albert Bridge near the city centre to Newtownards. And its heartland was by far the largest area of loyalist paramilitary influence and control in the whole of Northern Ireland.
And the lucrative cash return in the area was huge.
But as time passed, sources claim Matthews became estranged from the UVF's Shankill Road centre, although he continued to consolidate his support in the east.
But since his expulsion 18 months ago, Matthews didn't disappear quietly as some predicted. Instead, he steadily rebuilt an even more solid support base. In recent times, Matthews has overseen a move away from drug dealing and criminality toward community-based activism, sources claim.
And we were also told that during a meeting with his top men, one of 'Mackers' distant relatives – who held the rank of Provost Marshal – made a jokey remark about drug dealing, saying: 'No more drugs? That's why I joined the UVF.'
Matthews is alleged to have slapped his relative around the head. And he was later busted down the ranks and is now driving a taxi for a living.
'That showed Mackers meant business with regards to cleaning up the image,' said our source.
Only last Saturday, Mackers was spotted handing out chilled bottles of mineral water to thirsty returning bandsmen and 12th of July Orange marchers, near St Matthews Catholic Church on the Newtownards Road.
Matthews was inundated by well-wishers who showed their support by slapping him on the back and asking him for souvenir 'selfies'.
'Good on you, big man,' a member of the East Belfast Regimental Band shouted as he passed by on the final hurdle of the 12th parade, which was seen as a spectacular success. 'Mackers is more popular now than he was before he was ousted,' one of his supporters told us.
Whilst accepting the reality of their position outside the mainstream UVF, Mackers' men have refused to fully surrender their loyalist connection and they are now branding themselves the UVF Regiment of East Belfast.
This effectively sees two UVF-proclaimed groups vying for loyalist support in the East Belfast Brigade area.
But all available evidence also shows the Matthews faction is currently enjoying a resurgence of influence in working-class loyalist areas east of the River Lagan.
And many of Mackers' men are thoroughly convinced Winkie Irvine was responsible for a relentless smear campaign against their east Belfast boss.
Video footage of Winkie being arrested
Winkie's final throw of the dice came in June last year while he was still out on bail awaiting trial for a range of arms offences.
Irvine arranged for a psychological show of strength aimed at emphasising Mackers' demise.
The Woodvale UVF boss was one of hundreds of loyalists – wearing white shirts and black ties – who lined the entire length of the Newtownards Road.
Mackers stayed away, opting to observe proceedings from the nearby safety of the Constitution Club.
And he later used the moment to rebuild his support in the heartland of loyalism in east Belfast.
'Some people thought it would be the death knell of Stephen Matthews. Instead it was the beginning of his fight back and a year later he done it,' said our source. 'The blame for what happened has been laid at Winkies' door.'
Another loyalist source with an insight into Matthews' thinking insisted he didn't know the identity of those tried to discredit him, but he doesn't blame Irvine.
Last night, a spokesman said: 'Mr Matthews has no issue with Winston Irvine. And he doesn't wish to see any division within loyalism.'
Winston 'Winkie' Irvine in police custody
News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd
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