Northern Ireland

Intercomm Ireland suspends Winston 'Winkie' Irvine without pay

Prominent loyalist Wintson 'Winkie' Irvine has been suspended by Intercomm Ireland without pay
Prominent loyalist Wintson 'Winkie' Irvine has been suspended by Intercomm Ireland without pay Prominent loyalist Wintson 'Winkie' Irvine has been suspended by Intercomm Ireland without pay

THE north Belfast-based organisation that employs prominent loyalist Winston 'Winkie' Irvine has suspended him without pay.

Mr Irvine was one of two men arrested earlier this month by police investigating a hoax bomb alert targeting Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney in north Belfast in March.

He later appeared in court charged with several offences including possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

In a statement, a spokesman for his employer, Intercomm Ireland, which describes itself as a "conflict resolution organisation", last night said it "took the decision on Wednesday 15 June 2022 to suspend Mr Irvine, without pay".

The spokesman added the decision will be reviewed on July 1.

Mr Irvine is due to appear in court again on that date.

It has been reported that he is employed by the group as a project manager earning £35,000 a year.

Earlier this week it was confirmed that he had resigned from the board of a west Belfast housing association.

In a statement Woodvale and Shankill Community Housing Association confirmed Mr Irvine was no longer a board member or director of its subsidiaries.

Yesterday The Irish News also revealed that concerns have been raised about Mr Irvine's involvement in a £5.1 million project funded through European peace money with the support of the Irish government.