Despite repeated promises, the UVF is showing no sign of reigning back on its money-making rackets
Last week the Sunday World revealed how a high-ranking member of the terror group’s South East Antrim Brigade in the Rathcoole estate was being run out of the town after he was accused of being an informer.
He was also extorting members of thousands of pounds if they were found guilty of running drug rackets or anti-social behaviour.
He was levying £5,000 from people ordered out of the estate in order for them to be allowed to stay, with a similar amount was being levied on those wishing to return.
But he fell out of favour with the Shankill leadership over his close relationship with disgraced UVF commander Winston ‘Winkie’ Irvine and hated second in command ‘Harmless’ Harry Stockman.
He was suspected of telling tales on members to the leadership.
Graffiti appeared throughout the estate naming him as an informer. A gun and ammunition found in Rathcoole are believed to have been planned for use on the bagman’s home.
Some of the graffiti in Rathcoole
News in 90 Seconds – Thursday, October 30
He has been told he has to get out the estate.
But the Sunday World can reveal it’s business as usual for his successor. We can reveal that he is a man in his 60s and is related to a prominent sports personality who has nothing to do with him.
He is continuing to collect the £5,000 fines and has texted all members to bring their £20 monthly membership dues to his home.
Despite repeated promises, the UVF is showing no sign of reigning back on its money-making rackets.
Businesses in the north of the city are still forced to pay protection and people are being hit with bogus £5,000 fines, many of whom don’t have the money to pay which drives them into the arms of UVF money lenders.
“It’s a vicious circle,” a source told us.
“Any hope that the Shankill would put a stop to the fake fines now that the other guy had been stood down didn’t last long.
“All they care about is the money, they don’t care about ordinary members. People are being put out of their homes because they can’t pay these fines.”
Some of the graffiti in Rathcoole
All the money he collects for fines of drug dealing are taken to the Shankill or a senior UVF man in Glengormley.
The Sunday World is aware of the identity of the new bagman and the UVF chief in Glengormley but for legal reasons they can’t be named.
Like his predecessor, the bagman is fast becoming a hate figure. His family – which has no connection to the UVF – have virtually disowned him because of his paramilitary activities.
The turbulence in South East Antrim UVF comes a time of uncertainty within the terror group’s leadership.
The Sunday World understands a number of members attached to North Down UVF have switched allegiances to East Belfast.
The UVF in the east of the city has been gaining an ever stronger foothold with membership in the east.
In recent weeks it is understood a significant number of members under the previous leadership have moved across and signed up with the new leader.
The new leader was parachuted into the east by the Shankill leadership in an attempt to dampen the old leader’s influence and quell local fears over drug dealing.
Eight members of the former leadership structure were stood down in November 2023, and after an initially uncertain period he appears to have gained the upper hand.
But there is anger the new leader has failed to curb drug dealing in the area.
He now has significant numbers under his belt, with North Down UVF looking to swing in behind him.
East Belfast drug dealing activities have stretched into Holywood and Bangor and even as far as Newtownards.
Sources have said there is anger than little has been done to downgrade criminal activity.