20/05/2025
Two Men Sentenced For Firearm Offences
Two men have been sentenced at Belfast Crown Court today, Tuesday 20 May, for multiple firearm offences.
Winston Irvine, 49, of north Belfast, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, with half to be served in custody and half on licence. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, two counts of possession of a handgun, possession of ammunition and magazines without a certificate, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Robin Workman, 54, from the Larne area, was handed a statutory five-year sentence, also with half to be served in custody and half on licence. Workman pleaded guilty to the same offences as Irvine, along with an additional charge of possession of an air rifle without a certificate.
Detective Superintendent Moutray, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch, detailed the circumstances leading to the arrests. "Irvine was arrested following a stop and search in the Disraeli Street area of north Belfast on Wednesday, 8th June 2022," he said. "Prior to this, he had been observed meeting a man, later identified as Workman, in the Glencairn area. Here, Workman placed a bag in the boot of Irvine’s car."
Detective Superintendent Moutray added that when Irvine’s vehicle was searched, "the bag was found to contain a number of suspected firearms, ammunition and magazines for an assault rifle." A subsequent search of Workman’s home led to the seizure of an illegally held air rifle.
Emphasising the dangers posed by illegal weaponry, Detective Superintendent Moutray stated: "Illegal firearms are synonymous with violence. We want to reiterate that the possession or use of firearms, imitation or otherwise, is unacceptable in any modern society."
He concluded by reiterating the PSNI's commitment to public safety: "We are committed to apprehending perpetrators and this demonstrates our commitment towards keeping people safe from the fear, intimidation and control illegal firearms can cause. Anyone with information, or concerns, about firearms should contact us on 101, or 999 in an emergency."
Winston Irvine, 49, of north Belfast, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, with half to be served in custody and half on licence. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, two counts of possession of a handgun, possession of ammunition and magazines without a certificate, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Robin Workman, 54, from the Larne area, was handed a statutory five-year sentence, also with half to be served in custody and half on licence. Workman pleaded guilty to the same offences as Irvine, along with an additional charge of possession of an air rifle without a certificate.
Detective Superintendent Moutray, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch, detailed the circumstances leading to the arrests. "Irvine was arrested following a stop and search in the Disraeli Street area of north Belfast on Wednesday, 8th June 2022," he said. "Prior to this, he had been observed meeting a man, later identified as Workman, in the Glencairn area. Here, Workman placed a bag in the boot of Irvine’s car."
Detective Superintendent Moutray added that when Irvine’s vehicle was searched, "the bag was found to contain a number of suspected firearms, ammunition and magazines for an assault rifle." A subsequent search of Workman’s home led to the seizure of an illegally held air rifle.
Emphasising the dangers posed by illegal weaponry, Detective Superintendent Moutray stated: "Illegal firearms are synonymous with violence. We want to reiterate that the possession or use of firearms, imitation or otherwise, is unacceptable in any modern society."
He concluded by reiterating the PSNI's commitment to public safety: "We are committed to apprehending perpetrators and this demonstrates our commitment towards keeping people safe from the fear, intimidation and control illegal firearms can cause. Anyone with information, or concerns, about firearms should contact us on 101, or 999 in an emergency."
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A 33-year-old man has been arrested and a suspected firearm recovered during a police operation in west Belfast on the evening og Sunday, 07 July. Inspector McCullough said: "Officers carried out planned searches at two properties in the Kashmir Road area of the city – where a suspected firearm and other items were seized from one of the addresses.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.