Alleged mob boss Stephen Matthews still has protection of terror group, sources say

The suspected crime chief, named in court as the leader of the East Belfast crime gang, is one of a number of people dubbed the “Hateful Eight’’ who have been stood down by the Shankill leadership.

The Sunday World understands the announcement made during recent Remembrance Sunday commemorations was the culmination of a long negotiation process.

The process has been conducted in full consultation with British security and intelligence services and sees the UVF finally stepping away from paramilitary activity after 30 years of undelivered promises.

The terror group’s leadership and other strands of loyalism, including the Orange Order and community initiative East Belfast ACT, have insisted there is no prospect of a violent feud.

Loyalist sources have indicated the leadership is confident that they have done enough to ensure guns will not be brought out.

Ex-prisoners group East Belfast ACT, which is closely aligned with UVF thinking, hit out at speculation that a bloody feud is inevitable.

“There is no, and will be no, feud or violence, contrary to misinformed and malicious rumours,” they said in a statement.

The group said language around a potentially violent backlash was “dangerous and inflammatory.”’

They said attempts to provoke violence with attacks on individuals would not work.

Talks involving intermediaries – including prominent loyalist and former Red Hand commando chief Jim ‘Bimbo’ Wilson, and the UVF leadership team including Chief of Staff John ‘Bunter’ Graham – are ongoing.

It is believed Matthews has been assured he will remain a member of the organisation and can rely on its protection.

It had been feared the move against East Belfast would leave the veteran loyalist vulnerable to increased police attention.

Given that he still faces criminal charges in relation to a UVF “show of strength’’ in the Pitt Park area of the city in February 2021, and heightened scrutiny from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, it was thought his expulsion from the organisation would expose him to a higher risk of arrest.

His co-accused in the Pitt Park incident, Derek Lammey, is another of the Hateful Eight, as is a close associate of Mackers who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The Sunday World first revealed plans to depose the East Belfast leadership in 2019.

Bunter Graham had come under increasing pressure from the veteran membership, which was frustrated at the organisation’s failure to distance itself from involvement in the drugs trade.

He was also feeling the strain from the British government, which was frustrated at the UVF’s failed promises to transition away from paramilitary activity and criminality.

As previously revealed by this newspaper, Graham issued an edict that any UVF member found to be dealing drugs would be expelled.

It followed the arrival on the Shankill of a Dublin-based criminal gang involved in a dispute with UFF drug dealer Mo Courtney.

Bunter had previously showed his intentions when he stood down former South East Antrim Brigadier Den Elliott, when he discovered his one-time trusted lieutenant had links to a drug-dealing operation.

A number of senior figures, including a commander in north Belfast, have been subjected to punishment attacks or expelled.

Last weekend’s statement was read out to all five UVF brigades, most pointedly at two venues in the east of the city. According to sources, it was greeted with loud cheers.

It made clear that East Belfast UVF as a brigade has not been stood down, the leadership has been removed and a new command structure is to be put in place.

This was the plan first proposed by Graham in 2019 when he planned to put a veteran loyalist in charge. Known to be anti-drugs, he is seen as a safe pair of hands.

However, the Sunday World understands that speculation suggesting he has agreed to take over is premature.

“This is a settlement that has not been imposed – it has been agreed and there is absolutely no prospect of violence,” a well-placed source told us.

The source said Matthews, who denies any involvement in criminality, has been “semi-retired’’ for some time but had been involved in “transition work’’ around this issue. ​

“No list of names was read out, there is no witch-hunt but there was a very clear warning to those involved in drug dealing,” said a mainstream loyalist source.

Graham is hopeful this initiative will be enough to protect public funding for community projects in loyalist areas, on which a number of senior UVF figures rely for their living.

Bunter was insistent last weekend’s statement reflected what he sees as the “integrity” of the UVF. The original vision when the organisation declared its ceasefire 30 years ago was that it would transition into a veterans group – but it is believed Bunter is adamant the UVF name will be maintained for remembrance purposes.

It’s unclear whether other members of the ‘Hateful Eight’ will remain in the UVF or be expelled.

One-time trusted Matthews sidekick David ‘Dee’ McConnell, who fell out of favour over his on-the-side drug-running operation, is also thought to be among the Eight.