UVF Ousts Gunrunner, Internal Strife Intensifies
Loyalist tensions are flaring within the Ulster Volunteer Force after the conviction of gunrunner Winston “Winkie” Irvine. The fallout has led to internal disputes and a renewed examination of the organization’s practices, including information control.
Irvine’s Expulsion Shakes UVF
Once a commander within the UVF, Winston “Winkie” Irvine, has now been cast out by his former associates. At a recent clandestine gathering of the UVF’s ‘B Coy’ along the Shankill Road, members confronted Irvine, questioning his rise to power within the loyalist group.
Rank-and-file members voiced numerous grievances against the former ‘B Coy’ leader. According to sources, the discontent is particularly strong within the organization’s First Battalion, holding considerable sway in the greater Shankill area.
Leadership Absence and Veteran Intervention
Notably absent from the meeting was Harry Stockman, also known as ‘Harmless’ Harry Stockman, regarded as second-in-command and an ally of Irvine. Veteran UVF leader John ‘Bunter’ Graham addressed the growing unease among the ranks in Stockman’s place.
Sources suggest that Graham, who is in his early 80s, may have considered retirement. However, stepping down now could raise suspicion given the current instability within the UVF.
The ‘Scapaticci Clause’ and Information Control
Meanwhile, a controversial policy known as the ‘Scapaticci Clause’ is being used by the Court Service, denying the release of information tied to Winston ‘Winkie’ Irvine’s recent conviction. Informally known as such within Northern Ireland’s legal circles, its function appears to be the suppression of data pertaining to Irvine.
Before becoming Chief Constable of the PSNI, Jon Boutcher led the Kenova Inquiry, investigating state collusion allegations within the Provisional IRA. Boutcher often criticized the official state policy of ‘neither confirming or denying’ (NCND) orders. Paradoxically, some legal professionals now believe the police service he leads has adopted a similar stance.
The ‘Scappaticci Clause’ gained notoriety from the state’s repeated use of ‘neither confirming or denying’ in queries regarding the agent codenamed ‘Stakeknife’, or Freddie Scappaticci.
During testimony before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Jon Boutcher stated: “By this Iron-Curtain approach it leads to a lack of trust and confidence towards the security forces. It is unnecessary and the world has moved on from that.”
Despite Boutcher’s previous criticism, the PSNI recently employed a similar tactic to block inquiries regarding secret information held on Irvine. The PSNI press office initially ignored communications, then issued a curt statement: “We have no further comment to make in relation to this matter.”
Name Change Controversy
Two weeks prior, it was revealed that the UVF member changed his name from Winston Gibney to Winston Irvine via deed poll because he felt his original name sounded “too Catholic.”
The Court Service also invoked its right to “neither confirm nor deny,”
citing three legal clauses. They stated that confirming or denying would “disclose sensitive or potentially damaging information.”
The responses from both the PSNI and the Court Service have been met with skepticism by local lawyers. According to a 2023 report, public trust in law enforcement is essential to maintaining social order, with 74% of people reporting that their trust in law enforcement impacts their willingness to cooperate with them (ABA, 2023).
One lawyer commented, “It looks like the Scappaticci Clause is here to stay.”
Activists along Shankill Road are now demanding answers regarding Irvine’s background and how he managed to remain within the organization for so long. Some UVF ‘A Coy’ members claim mere suspicions about Irvine should have been grounds for stripping his protection.
“Good men have been labelled touts for less,”
a veteran UVF member stated.
The strongest criticism, however, is aimed at UVF leadership figures who actively protected Irvine.
