Two reformed loyalist terrorists are hoping to team up with police to help turn Ulster kids against drugs and crime.

Former Lurgan LVF hardman Paul Winter and ex-Belfast loyalist Joe Turner are planning to partner neighbourhood cops in a unique scheme aimed at primary schools across the province.

The two loyalists have turned to God and say they hope the evil in their pasty can now be used for good to help persuade kids to follow a different path.

The notorious ex-terrorists, who have spent their lives in and out of Ulster’s jails for a range of crimes and terrorist offences, have also set up a prison ministry to help give inmates a second chance on the outside.

Said Turner: “We want to speak to children and get the message across to them that, if they get into trouble when they are young, it will affect the rest of their lives.

“The PSNI officers are guiding us on how best to go about setting up the scheme and have expressed an interest in getting involved by talking to the kids about the dangers of drugs.

“Myself and Paul would hope to talk about crime and the consequences, sharing our experiences with the school kids.”

The two men also spoke about their shameful pasty in a bid to highlight the dramatic change they say has taken place in their lives.

Known more for his brutality than his work as a born-again Christian, Winter spoke frankly about his terrorist involvement and about how his life has now been transformed.

Turner, who confessed to us that he was planning a murder when arrested by police for armed robbery during the loyalist feud in early 2000, also spoke of his “road to Damascus “ conversion and of how he now hoped to make up for his sins by helping others.

Winter dropped out of school at 15 and his career as a criminal and terrorist began.

“All I was interested in was drinking and fighting and I had this great big chip on my shoulder,” he said.

“I was rioting with the police and throwing petrol bombs at them — everyone in our area was doing it at the time.”

At 17, he had his first taste of prison life when he was given six months in Hydebank Young Offenders Centre for assaulting a police officer.

When released, Winter went straight back to his old tricks. He started to take drugs and began mixing with the UVF in east Belfast, who swore him in as a member in his early 20s.

A few years later he moved to Lurgan and aligned himself with the town’s notorious LVF gang.

He was arrested numerous times for a number of serious terrorist offences, including attempted murder and threats to kill. He served time for armed robbery.

Said Winter: “My life was never normal until I was 36 and gave my life to Jesus.

“Since then I have got my driving licence, bought my first car and my first house and even been on holiday for the first time.

“Up until then, I never cared about anybody else and I say this regretfully, not boastfully.

“I have three children in Belfast who don’t want anything to do with me and I can’t blame them as I was never there when they needed me.

“I am not proud of my past and I can’t change it, but I can change my future and only with the help of Christ who sacrificed everything on the cross.”

Like Winter, Turner paints a sorry picture of a life dedicated to crime.

He also grew up in east Belfast and dropped out of school when he was 14. His family had moved from the city to Newtownards and Turner ran away at 15 back to Belfast.

Living alone in a derelict house with nothing, he looked up to the terrorist chiefs and envied their gangster lifestyles

He said: “I had been carrying out robberies for the sake of it from I was in my early teens. When I left home and lived in that derelict house, I had to steal to get what I needed.

“I started carrying out attacks for the paramilitaries, rioting and so on and in return I got to stay in their houses for periods of time.

“I never actually joined any organisation, but was always on the fringes.”

Turner was just 17 when he was first imprisoned in Hydebank for burglary.

A short time after he was released he met his wife-to-be who introduced him to church and he started attending the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle on Belfast’s Shore Road.

He recalls: “I was 19 and it really hit home that Jesus loved me and died for me and wanted to give me a real life, a full life.”

For the next two years, Turner devoted his life to God, attending prayer meetings, church and reading his Bible every day.

He then began to drift away from his faith and back into the company of his former associates in east Belfast.

A major turning point for Turner was the murder of his cousin, 22-year-old Jonathan Stewart who was shot dead in Belfast in December 2002 as part of the loyalist feud.

“I was absolutely devastated by Jonathan’s murder,” said Turner. “I decided something would have to be done and I got some boys together to carry out a robbery in Ballymoney.

“I was going to use the money to buy a weapon to shoot Jonathan’s killer. It was my intention to get involved in the feud to get my revenge.”

While returning from the robbery of a Ballymoney frozen food warehouse, the gang was spotted by a farmer setting fire to the stolen car they had used. They were arrested before they got back to Belfast.

Added Turner: “If I hadn’t been caught and sent to prison I am sure I would have done murder.

“In Maghaberry, I wanted to be a tough guy and a real menace and spent most of my time in the punishment unit.

“I had a lot of anger in me and although I knew my life was in a mess I thought I was in control.”

Turner was saved in prison in Decem

ber 2004. Since his release a year later he has carried out pastoral visits to Ulster’s jails and has laid the groundwork for a new organisation, Christian Prison Ministries Ireland which he and Winter have just launched.

The ministry will be staffed by ex-prisoners offering help with practical problems facing inmates when they leave the prison system.

"We want to help give these people a second chance," said Turner.

"We want them to know there is somebody there who cares about their families and helping them get back to normality.

"We will be setting up a drop-in centre in Lurgan and on the Shore Road in Belfast, to offer a cup of tea and to help them fill in forms.

"And as many of them have literacy problems, we are looking at the possibility of having a teacher coming in to do adult education. I have been in their shoes and I have been where they are.

Who better to talk to prisoners than ex-prisoners?"

The Lurgan drop-in centre will also help families with furniture and toys for children.

A team of around 20 people are coming together in support, with women also planning to do home visitations with prisoners' wives.

“As well as hopefully giving practical help, for us, one of the most important parts of what we are doing and what we hope to do with the prisoners and school children, is to help people to see that Jesus is the answer to all our problems and that prayer changes things.”

A police spokesman said: “We are aware of the proposals being considered and have offered only advice with no other direct involvement.

“We would consider getting involved with the scheme and welcome anything aimed at reducing crime and making Northern Ireland a safer place to live.”

slnews@belfasttelegraph.co.uk