High-profile loyalist Winston ‘Winkie’ Irvine is to stand trial on charges of having guns and ammunition in the boot of this car.
Irvine (49) and 53-year old co-accused Robin Workman appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court where they were jointly charged with, and denied, six firearms and ammunition offences.
Both Irvine, from Ballysillan Road in Belfast and Workman, from Shore Road in Larne, were arrested following a police surveillance operation in June 2022.
It’s alleged that Workman transported a quantity of weapons and ammunition to the Glencairn area of Belfast in his van, which the PSNI believe were then put into the boot of Irvine’s car.
Irvine’s vehicle was stopped in Disraeli Street and when the boot was searched two suspected pistols, an air gun, magazines and over 200 rounds of ammunition were discovered inside a leather holdall.
During today’s hearing, the two co-accused were both charged that on June 8, 2022 they possessed firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances.
Irvine was arraigned first and when asked how he pleaded, he replied “not guilty.” When the same charge was put to Workman, he also replied “not guilty.”
The pair were then charged with two counts of possessing a handgun without a certificate, one count of possessing ammunition without a certificate, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing a firearm without a certificate.
Both Irvine and Workman entered ‘not guilty’ pleas to these five charges which were all dated June 8, 2022.
Workman was also charged with, and denied, an additional offence of possessing a handgun without a certificate on June 8, 2022.
After both men denied all the charges levelled against them, Mr Justice Fowler said he wanted the Diplock trial to start as soon as possible and expressed the hope that it could commence “at the end of November or the beginning of December.”
Michael Borrelli KC, representing Workman, said that as there was “a DNA element” he was seeking to instruct a forensic expert.
Irvine’s barrister Joe Brolly then told the senior judge that as it was “quite clear there was a surveillance operation in the case”, there may be “significant disclosure” ahead of the trial starting.
It also emerged that the Crown will be lodging anonymity applications regarding a number of witnesses involved in the case.
Mr Justice Fowler said he would review the case on October 11 when it is hoped a date for the trial will be set.
Following no objections from the Crown, the defendants were then released on continuing bail.