james nesbitt

I think you've probably missed the point, James Nesbitt's character isn't the big tough guy he'd like to think he is - this is why he keeps making people read out cuttings from a newspaper which makes him/his group seem the big bad rather than let his actions speak for themselves.

It's irony, in the same way the Catholic priest indicates that he has children of his own, something his religion would forbid.

I do think the whole idea with "Winkie" was to portray a man who thought of himself as feared and ruthless but really where non of the above. So if he comes across as "wrong" the casting was very right. ;)