A prominent loyalist has been denied bail after a court said police found weapons and ammunition in a bag in the trunk of his Belfast car.
Winston Irvine, 46, was arrested on Wednesday as part of a separate PSNI investigation into a security alert that led to the evacuation of Irish Government Minister Simon Cowney from a peaceful event.
Irvine is accused of possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possessing prohibited firearms, possessing a gun without a certificate and possessing ammunition without a certificate.
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Speaking before the Laganside Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, a detective inspector told the court that a number of weapons and ammunition had been found in a trunk of Irvine’s car on Wednesday.
A defense lawyer told the court that Irvine was a “famous peace builder” who demonstrated public support for the peace process.
He also said Irvine was a member of the North Belfast Police Community Partnership Council.
A district judge rejected the bail application, saying a “significant sample of weapons and ammunition” had been restored. Irvine was remanded in custody to appear in court again on July 1.
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