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Inquiry should uncover truth says Wright father
Hearings into LVF leader's murder to start next week
The father of Portadown LVF leader Billy Wright says he is optimistic that the truth about his son's murder will emerge at a public inquiry into his death. The main oral hearings of the Billy Wright Inquiry will start in Banbridge nest week, almost 10 years after Wright was shot dead in the Maze Prison by INLA prisoners. Speaking to the Portadown Times this week. Wright's father David described the long and frustrating battle he had waged to reach this stage. But Mr Wright is now hopeful that the Inquiry Panel, under the chairmanship of Lord Maclean, will uncover the truth about events in December 1997. The inquiry is expected to last a year. "It's been a long wait but hopefully the truth will now emerge, and that's all 1 can really hope for," said Mr Wright. "I have campaigned for nine years on this matter, but it's common knowledge what happened. The rebuttals I have had over the years have been unbelievable." There have been allegations of security force collusion in the murder, and Mr Wright said it was one correct that a public inquiry take place. “I have managed to get a public inquiry and I mink the consequences that surrounded the murder of my son deserved a formal inquiry," be added. "Ultimately I think the truth will emerge. The inquiry will last a year, that's what they have set aside for it. "My thanks go to those who have supported me on this. All I'm hoping is that the truth will emerge. It's a very complex matter." Wright died on December 27th 1997 when three members of the INLA smuggled two guns into an H-Block, housing both republican and loyalist inmates, including Wright. They apprehended the Portadown man as he was being transferred to the visitors' block, shooting him at least three times. They then returned to their cells, handed the weapons to a priest and surrendered. The main hearings of the inquiry will start at Banbridge Court House, Victoria Street, Banbridge, on Wednesday, May 30th, to close of business on Friday, June 1st. Portadown Times 25th May 2007
Secretary of State sidesteps MI5 jail tape question
Peter Hain has refused to confirm or deny the existence of MIS spy tapes at the Maze during the period leading to Billy Wright's 1997 jail murder. The Secretary of State referred to ministerial convention on security matters as he stonewalled a written question by DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson concerning claims that LVF and INLA in-mates conversations were bugged at the jail. Mr Donaldson MP wrote to Mr Hain asking whether he could make available to the Billy Wright Inquiry surveillance tapes held by the security and intelligence services of conversations that took place in H Block 6 during the period leading up to the LVF chief's murder by INLA inmates. It follows claims by ex-intelligence services soldiers that MI5 had bugging devices operating inside H Block 6 during 1997. The soldiers also claimed transcripts of all surveillance tapes were given to RUC Special Branch on a regular basis. In his written response to Mr Donaldson, the Secretary of State said that by convention he could neither confirm nor deny the existence of the material. Mr Donaldson said he was deeply disappointed with the Secretary of State's response. The Lagan Valley MP added that Mr Hain had failed to co-operate in any way in providing any of the material that had been requested. Mr Donaldson said the Secretary of Sate had also refused to explain why the Northern Ireland Prison Service had destroyed certain files relevant to Judge Peter Cory's investigation into Billy Wright's murder without first informing the judge of their destruction. The Billy Wright Inquiry is due to begin full public hearings at Banbridge Courthouse in May. Sunday Life 29th April 2007
Wright witnesses secure identities
Five witnesses at the Billy Wright murder inquiry won a legal battle for anonymity in the High Court yesterday. The witnesses - three government officials and two prison officers - were successful in their application for a judicial review of the inquiry panel's refusal to keep their identities secret. The five, known only by a single initial, had claimed that their lives could be in danger from paramilitaries if they were forced to give evidence in public. Mr Justice Gillen ordered the inquiry panel to reconsider the five's request for anonymity and/or screening. LVF leader Billy Wright was murdered in the Maze on December 2, 1997, and three INLA prisoners were later convicted of killing the man nicknamed King Rat. The inquiry was set up following an investigation by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory into allegations of collusion by the prison service and lawyers for the five had argued that public exposure could lead to revenge attacks against prison officers and officials. News Letter 27th April 2007
Hain is to challenge Wright probe ruling
Peter Hain will return to court in a bid to overturn a ruling that he acted unlawfully when he changed the terms of the Billy Wright collusion Inquiry. But full public hearings of the inquiry into the jailhouse killing of the LVF chief will begin at Banbridge Courthouse in May despite the appeal by the Secretary of State. Mr Hain had controversially changed the terms of the inquiry from the Prisons Act to the more restrictive Inquiries Act 2005. The move was successfully challenged in the High Court by Wright's father, David. A spokesman for the NIO confirmed a notice appealing Mr Justice Deeny's decision and said papers were lodged on March 7th. "The Government is disappointed the court found the decision to convert the inquiry was unlawful. The Government disagrees with the judge's analysis of the law," he said. In his ruling, Mr Justice Deeny said Mr Hain had acted unlawfully when he changed the inquiry legislation. The judge added he did not suspect bad faith on the part of the Secretary of State, but that he had been ill-advised. Mr Wright waived his right to seek an order quashing Mr Hain's decision for "personal and pragmatic" reasons, a move that gave the green light for the inquiry to proceed in May. Sources close to the inquiry say Mr Hain's decision to appeal Judge Deeny's ruling will only add to the costs, already in the region of £3.9m. Sunday Life1st April 2007
Billy Wright murder probe is scheduled
The inquiry into the killing of former
LVF leader Billy Wright is due to begin its main oral hearings in three months.
A spokeswoman for the investigation confirmed yesterday that the hearings
into the shooting of the 37-year-old paramilitary, known as 'King Rat', would
begin on May 30 at Banbridge Court House. The inquiry will usually sit from
10.00am from Monday to Thursday, but in the week beginning May 28 it will
sit from Wednesday to Friday. The inquiry was initially set up under the Prisons
Act, later changed under Peter Hain to the Inquiries Act 2005, to the objection
of Wright's father, David.
Wright was shot dead by three INLA prisoners in the Maze on December 27, 1997.
A public inquiry into the killing was announced in November 2004 following
a report by retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory into several cases of alleged
security force collusion. News Letter 27th February 2007
Ex-Prime Minister and Mayhew to be grilled by inquiry panel
Former Prime Minister John Major is expected
to be questioned by the Inquiry panel investigating the murder of LVF leader
Billy Wright. Ex-Secretary of State Sir Patrick Mayhew is another high profile
Tory who is likely to be interviewed later this year by the panel. They are
among a string of leading former Government ministers who the Wright Inquiry
panel want to talk to about the case — and who could be called to give
evidence at Banbridge Courthouse. Former NIO Security Ministers Sir John Wheeler
and Adam Ingram are also expected to be grilled. Informed sources said the
inquiry team was anxious to establish what intelligence documents had been
made available to ministers in the run up to Wright's transfer to the Maze
Prison in April 1997. "Both John Major and Patrick Mayhew were still
in office at that time and would have been fully briefed on the Wright situation,"
said one source. "They met fringe loyalist politicians, including the
late David Ervine, in July 1996 to discuss what was then described as the
"Wright problem in mid-Ulster'. "Within days of the meeting, the
UVF expelled Wright and gave him 72 hours to leave the country or face 'summary
execution'." It is understood the inquiry will ask for minutes of the
meeting. They are also expected to request access to records of meetings involving
the NIO, senior RUC officers and Orange Order officers between July 1996 and
April 1997. The sources claimed former NIO Security Minister Sir John Wheeler
will be asked to explain why he decided to transfer Billy Wright to the Maze
Prison in April 1997.
"It is a matter of public record on April 1, 1997 Sir John Wheeler agreed
to transfer Billy Wright to the Maze," said the source. "Twelve
days later, he reversed his decision after studying intelligence services
documents and reports on Billy Wright and the Maze. Within days, wheeler changed
his mind again and Wright was transferred to the Maze on April 26,1997."
The sources said the inquiry panel wanted to establish precisely why the former
Security Minister had done an about turn on the transfer. They added that
the Wright Inquiry was leaving no stone unturned in their quest to establish
the full circumstances of the LVF leader's murder. "The authorities now
realise the Wright Inquiry means business. There is the possibility some of
these politicians could be appearing in the witness box at Banbridge Courthouse
when the Wright Inquiry resumes in May." Sunday Life 25th February
2007
One of the killers of LVF leader Billy Wright Is back behind bars and could be forced to serve the rest of his life sentence. John Kennaway was locked up at Maghaberry Prison last week after an alleged bust up with cops. It's understood that the convicted murderer — who along with Christopher 'Crip' McWilliams and John 'Sonny1 Glennon gunned down the loyalist leader in the Maze in December 1997 — was pulled over by cops suspected of drink driving. It's believed that he has since been accused of a raft of offences, including assaulting police and making threats to kill, arising out of the same incident. He remains on remand at the Co Antrim jail, waiting to see if Secretary of State Peter Hain determines he has broken the conditions of his early release and suspends his licence. A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said: "Consideration is being given to whether or not Mr Kennaway is considered to be in breach of the conditions of his early release. "Where there is evidence that an individual has breached his licence conditions, the Secretary of State has indicated he will take action to suspend that licence." It is believed that Peter Hain's office will examine the police file on Kennaway next week. If the licence is suspended the matter is then in the hands of the Life Sentence Review Commissioners, who will then decide whether to revoke the licence. Kennaway (44), from north Belfast, walked free from jail in October 2000, just two years after being handed a life sentence for the murder of LVF leader Wright. INLA prisoners were among the last to be freed under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement after the Government recognised the terror group's ceasefire. Kennaway had been serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to murder Ulster Conservative Dr Lawrence Kennedy when he took part in the Wright murder in December 1997. He was part of the INLA gang that held Dr Kennedy's family hostage at their Holywood home in November 1991. Sunday Life 11th February 2007
RUC men demand anonymity for public inquiry
A number of former RUC officers want their identities kept secret when they give evidence to the public Inquiry into the murder of LVF leader, Billy Wright. Informed sources confirmed several ex-RUC officers will demand total anonymity before they agree to appear before Lord Randal MacLean and his inquiry panel later this year. The officers believe their personal safety could be jeopardised if their identities are made public during the inquiry. It is understood some former RUC Special Branch and CID officers are among those who want their identities kept secret. At least three high ranking former RUC officers are expected to give evidence before Lord MacLean and his colleagues. It is believed the inquiry will also speak with former RUC Chief Constables, Sir Hugh Annesley and Sir Ronnie Flanagan as part of their investigations. A source added: "The Wright Inquiry has already applied for police documents and files on Billy Wright. "The inquiry is interested in what intelligence was available to police in relation to any threat posed to Billy Wright's life. The Cory Report has already highlighted a number of concerns in that area. " Last November, a number of Prison Service officials were allowed to keep their identities secret when they appeared before a preliminary session of the inquiry. At least two officials were completely screened from public view when they gave evidence. Others — although visible to the public — were only identified by a letter of the alphabet. The Wright Inquiry is expected to begin full public sessions in April or May this year. Sunday Life 11th February 2007
Wright murder inquiry gets the go-ahead
The Billy Wright murder inquiry got the green light to go ahead yesterday without any more legal obstacles. In the High Court Wright's 72-year-old father, David, waived his right to seek an order quashing a decision by Secretary of State Peter Hain who was found to have acted unlawfully when he changed the nature of the inquiry to a system that enables the State to keep evidence secret. The inquiry was initially set up under the Prisons Act - LVF leader Billy Wright was shot dead in the Maze in 1997 - but Mr Hain later converted it to be held under the Inquiries Act 2005 which had been rushed through Parliament. Mr Justice Deeny held that Mr Hain failed to take into account the important consideration that the independence of the inquiry was compromised by Section 14 of the 2005 Act giving a Minister power to terminate the inquiry at any time. He said Mr Hain was wrongly advised that an equivalent power existed under the Prisons Act. After upholding Mr Wright's judicial review application, the judge adjourned the question of remedy. He was then told by barrister Alan Kane that for "pragmatic and personal reasons" Mr Wright no longer wished to seek to have Mr Hain's decision quashed. But Mr Kane pressed for a declaration that the decision was unlawful and Mr Justice Deeny granted the application. The Secretary of State and the Inquiry Panel had argued against a declaration and stressed the need for the inquiry to get on with its work. Mr Justice Deeny said the court had been told that costs of £3.9 million had already been incurred and quashing of the inquiry would cause uncertainty and considerable delay. The Wright inquiry, together with those on Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson and Robert Hamill, was set up after an investigation by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory into alleged collusion by agents of the State. News Letter 3rd February 2007
Decision on Wright Inquiry expected
The future legal basis of the public inquiry into the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright will be decided at the Belfast High Court today. The future implications of the Wright Inquiry have been up in the air since early December when the High Court ruled that Secretary of State Peter Hain had acted illegally when he changed the legal basis of the inquiry into the LVF chief's murder. The Billy Wright Inquiry was originally set up under the Northern Ireland Prisons Act as the loyalist leader had been shot dead inside the top security Maze Prison in December 1997. Inquiry chairman Lord Randall MacLean then asked Mr Hain for the legal basis of the Wright Inquiry to be converted to one held under the controversial 2005 Inquiries Act. Mr Hain agreed but Billy Wright's father, David, objected and initiated a judicial review of the decision to have his son's inquiry held under the new legislation. His case was upheld by the High Court, who said that Mr Hain had not taken into account the new powers he had given himself when he converted the Wright Inquiry. The 2005 Inquiries Act gives the Northern Secretary a power of veto over the inquiry. He can also suspend or stop it at any time and has the power to withhold publication of the final report should he chose to do so. Rill public hearings of the inquiry are to get underway in Banbridge in April. News Letter 29th January 2007
Donaldson raises Wright jail files row in Commons
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson Is set to raise the destruction of hundreds of jail security files on murdered LVF leader Billy Wright in the House of Commons. The Lagan Valley MP said lie was very concerned at revelations in last week's Sunday Life that the Prison authorities destroyed crucial files and documents in early 2002. The destruction of the Wright files and hundreds of other security documents came just months before Canadian Judge Peter Cory launched his investigation into the murder of the LVF boss at the Maze jail. Last Sunday, Judge Cory confirmed he had been totally unaware highly sensitive Maze files and intelligence material had been incinerated in early 2002. The retired Canadian Judge said prison authorities never told him they had destroyed material that should have been made available to his investigation team. Mr Donaldson now intends to table a parliamentary question asking NIO security Minister. Paul Goggins to provide reasons why the Northern Ireland Prison Service failed to tell Judge Cory in autumn 2002 they had already destroyed the crucial intelligence material. The MP said the Billy Wright Inquiry had already raised a number of matters of public concern about the murder. Sunday Life 14th January 2007
Judge shocked at destruction of Prison files
The retired Canadian judge who recommended public Inquiries Into a string of Ulster murders says he was shocked to learn that hundreds of top security files have been destroyed by the Prison Service. Judge Peter Cory was speaking publicly for the first time since it emerged at the on-going inquiry into the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright that the prison service had destroyed files on the loyalist and his three INLA killers. It was Judge Cory who recommended the public inquiry into the murder of Wright, over allegations of state collusion in his death at the Maze in December 1997. Judge Cory told Sunday Life he had absolutely no idea the NI Prison Service officials had destroyed more than 800 sensitive security files and related intelligence documents in early 2002 — just six months before he began investigating the murder. Speaking from his office in Toronto last week, he described the destruction of the files as a "shame". He said he did not know the files existed until it was confirmed by the Billy Wright Inquiry team last November. "I did not see any prisoner security files during my investigations into Billy Wright's death," he said - "It's a shame the Prison Service destroyed these files knowing an inquiry was due. "However, I cannot say I saw everything during my investigation into Billy Wright's death. But everything I considered of importance relating to collusion is included in my report. It is well documented." Judge Cory's appointment in June 2002 fulfilled a commitment made by the British and Irish governments at the West-on Park talks in the summer of 2001. The Maze security files were destroyed in early 2002. Meanwhile, the future legal basis of the Wright inquiry will be decided in the High Court later this month. The Inquiry's future has been in doubt since before Christmas, when the High Court ruled that Secretary of State Peter Hain had acted unlawfully when he converted the inquiry to one held under the controversial 200S Inquiries Act The position of the Wright Inquiry is not expected to become clear until later this month, when Mr Justice Deeney rules on a remedy for the future legal basis of the inquiry. Sunday Life 7th January 2007
Wright court ruling a blow to Hain
Ulster Secretary of State Peter Hain was yesterday dealt a blow when a judge overturned his controversial decision on the inquiry into Billy Wright's murder. The father of the loyalist paramilitary leader gunned down in jail yesterday won a legal challenge against a decision to hold the inquiry into the killing under legislation passed last year which enables the State to keep evidence secret. The High Court in Belfast ruled in favour of David Wright after he objected to the inquiry into the murder of the LVF leader being held under the Inquiries Act 2005. Initially, the Billy Wright Inquiry was to be held under the Prisons Act, but Mr Hain changed the terms under which the tribunal would be held. Mr Justice Deeny ruled yesterday that Mr Hain's decision to change the nature of the inquiry was unlawful and failed to take into account the importance of the inquiry's independence. The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright won a landmark ruling yesterday over how the inquiry into his son's killing is to be conducted. Mr Justice Deeny ruled in the High Court that Secretary of State Peter Hain acted unlawfully when he changed the nature of the inquiry to a system which enables the State to keep evidence secret. The inquiry was initially set up under the Prisons Act -Billy Wright was shot dead in the Maze in 1997 - but Mr Hain later converted it to be held under the Inquiries Act 2005 after it was rushed through Parliament. Despite the ruling, the future form of the inquiry has still to be determined as the judge said he would give lawyers time to study his 40-page judgment before deciding on the appropriate remedy to be granted to 72-year-old David Wright. Mr Justice Deeny held that Mr Hain failed to take into account the important and relevant consideration that the independence of such an inquiry was compromised by section 14 of the 2005 act which gives a government minister power to terminate the inquiry at any time. He said Mr Hain was wrongly advised that an equivalent power existed under the Prisons Act. The judge said that as the decision-maker, Mr Hain did not direct himself, nor did he have called to his attention, "the novel and unrestricted power given to him and his successors as ministers in a Northern Ireland administration. "A wholly new power exists under section 14 inconsistent with past law and practice," the judge said. But the judge made it clear that he was not personally criticising Mr Hain. "There was no question of bad faith here," he said. "He ought to have been advised, at the least, that there was a seriously contentious issue relating to the powers under section 14." The judge described the power to terminate an inquiry as "untrammelled" and said it would be difficult for a party aggrieved by the decision to challenge it by way of judicial review because Parliament had left such a wide discretion to the minister. The Wright inquiry, along with others into the murders of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson and Robert Hamill, was set up following an investigation by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory into allegations of collusion by agents of the State. News Letter December 22nd 2006
800 Prison files burned, inquiry is told
A Prison officer has told the Billy Wright Inquiry-how he was ordered to burn over 800 security files containing sensitive information on paramilitary prisoners in an incinerator at Maghaberry prison in early 2002. Peter Drew said he had just returned to work with the Northern Ireland Prison Service following long term sick leave when he was ordered to burn the files by Maghaberry security principal officer, Richard Molloy. The files contained sensitive information on paramilitary prisoners released from the Maze prison under the terms of the 1998 Belfast Agreement. Drew told the inquiry-that principal officer Molloy had asked him to work in Maghaberry's Security Department as part of his two-week return to work programme in January 2002. He said he had been given several jobs within the security department -one of which was the destruction of the Maze prisoner security files. In response to questions from counsel for the inquiry, Derek Batchelor, QC, Mr Drew said he put the files into bags, carried them out of Maghaberry's security department and put them into a prison van. He said he had no problems in accessing the files, which were kept in a number of filing cabinets. He took the security files to an incinerator located within Maghaberry prison and "threw them into the flames". He said he "got the impression the files were in the road''. Drew said he had recognised some of the names on the files. He said when he found a security file on LW leader Billy Wright he removed it and handed it over to Security Governor, Margaret Johnston, Drew said he removed Billy Wright's file because he thought 'it would be required at some stage'. He said he did not know what had happened to Billy Wright's file after he had passed it on to Ms Johnston. The inquiry was also told the prisoner security files had not been shredded before being burn and no official record had been made of their destruction in early 2002. In his submission to the inquiry panel, Derek Batchelor QC said it seemed inconceivable intelligence on high profile prisoners should be thrown away. Full public hearings of the Billy Wright Inquiry will get underway in April/May 2007 at Banbridge Courthouse. News Letter 5 th December 2006
LVF leaders death probe under way
The public inquiry into the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright started in Belfast today. The probe has been set up to examine allegations of security force collusion in the 1997 killing of the loyalist terror boss. The first stage of the inquiry, which will run through this week, will focus on the recovery of documents relevant to the murder. The legal team representing the Wright family are demanding access to documents from the Maze prison, where the loyalist leader was shot dead by three INLA prisoners in December 1997. It has been claimed that some papers relating to the time of the murder have gone missing from the Prison Service. The opening week aims to establish what documents are no longer available and if there is any record of documents being destroyed. The inquiry will hear evidence from seventeen people this week, some of whom will have their identity protected and will only be referred to with a letter of the alphabet. Wright's father David was present as proceedings got under way at the Europa Hotel. Once this week's evidence is heard, the inquiry will adjourn over the winter and resume in the spring. Former Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy announced the public inquiry into Wright's killing in November 2004. The Government agreed to set it up following the recommendations of retired Canadian judge Peter Cory. The inquiry team includes Lord MacLean, Professor Andrew Coyle from the University of London and the former Bishop of Hereford, the Rev. John Oliver. News Letter October 31st 2006
Wright's dad to quiz Hain on inquiry
The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright says he has still to decide whether or not he will take part in the public inquiry into his son's killing. David Wright is to meet with Secretary of State, Peter Hain at Stormont on Thursday. He says he intends to confront Mr Hain over the request by Lord Randal MacLean, the inquiry chairman, to hold it under the 2005 Inquries Act. He says those terms would limit its scope into allegations of state collusion into his son's murder by INLA gunmen at the Maze prison in December 1997. “On December 29 last year, the NIO wrote to me saying there were no plans to convert this inquiry into one under the Inquires Act,” he said. “The letter stated the inquiry would continue to be held under the 1953 Prisons Act, and officials had advised Lord MacLean of the position. I want to know what led to the sudden change in policy.” David Wright said conversion to the Inquires Act would lead to an intolerable situation where those under investigation could veto the inquiry. December 2005 Sunday Life
‘Slow response' delays Wright public inquiry
The start of a public inquiry into the murder of loyalist paramilitary chief Billy Wright inside the Maze prison has been delayed because of difficulties in obtaining documentary evidence from Government departments, it was revealed yesterday. Inquiry chairman Lord MacLean told a preliminary hearing he and his fellow members were "concerned at the slow response of a number of Government departments to our requests". He told the hearing in Belfast it was now anticipated the public sessions would begin next September and continue well into 2007 - rather than start as had been proposed next spring. Lord MacLean said: "I will not, at this stage, give specific examples of the extent of co-operation which the inquiry team has or has not received from the parties we are charged with investigating, namely 'the prison authorities or other state agencies'." But he added: "I will assure everyone, however, that comment will be made in due course in the report Of the inquiry on some of the difficulties we have encountered in the process of identification, collation and production of evidence that may be relevant to our work." He said it may be necessary to hold a third preliminary hearing to examine specifically the question of the identification and recovery of relevant documentation. The Scottish Law Lord said it had also taken "a significant period of time" for Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to respond to his request for the inquiry to be converted to be held under the Inquiries Act 2005 rather than the Prisons Act, under which it had been set up. Controversy has surrounded the Inquiries Act and opponents have claimed it can be used by the Government to withhold evidence, or even suppress the final report. The inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane is due to be held under the new legislation. Billy Wright's father, David, did not attend the preliminary hearing and associates said his lawyers had written to the panel on Monday informing them of his intention to seek a judicial review in the Northern Ireland High Court of the decision to hold the inquiry under the Inquiries Act. Lord MacLean said yesterday he had requested the conversion of his inquiry because he did not consider its powers under the Prisons Act were sufficiently wide. In explanation, he added: "Where there has been the death of someone in the custody of the state, any inquiry set up to investigate that death must seek to ensure, so far as possible, that it brings the full known facts into the public light. "In pursuing that objective, it is important to recognise that there is a responsibility and an onus on those state agencies concerned to provide a satisfactory and convincing explanation on how the death occurred." He said it was of paramount importance that all of those who had, or ought to have, relevant material "should co-operate willingly and to the fullest extent possible with the inquiry team". News Letter December 14 th 2005
Legal move as Wright inquiry terms changed
Father intensifies quest for the ‘truth' over murder of LVF leader. A legal challenge may be mounted by the Wright family over the Secretary of State's decision to convert the Billy Wright Inquiry to the Inquiries Act 2005. Peter Hain has announced the change following a request by inquiry chairman, Lord MacLean. However, Billy Wright's father, David, who has fought a campaign to find the truth about his son's murder, is believed to be unhappy at the decision and is currently consulting his legal team on the matter. Mr Wright expressed his reservations when the inquiry opened in June with an announcement by Lord MacLean that he was seeking to change the terms from the Prison (NI) Act 1953 to the Inquiries Act. The Billy Wright Inquiry will investigate the circumstances surrounding the 1997 murder of LVF leader, Billy Wright, by INLA members Christopher McWilliams, John Kennaway and John Glennon in the Maze Prison. There have been allegations of collusion in the murder and the inquiry was recommended by Canadian Judge, Peter Cory, who was asked the British and Irish governments to look into controversial murders. But despite reservations. Mr Hain said he accepts the arguments put forward by Lord MacLean. He said, "I have very carefully considered the representations made by Lord MacLean and by other parties in relation to the conversion request, and have sought to take all the relevant factors into account. "My concern throughout has been to ensure that the Billy Wright Inquiry should be able to carry out its work both as fully and as effectively as possible. "In light of this, and taking into account both Lord Mac Lean's case for conversion and the representations which have been made against it, I have decided to grant the request for the Billy Wright Inquiry to be converted to the Inquiries Act 2005. "It remains the strong wish of both the Government and the Billy Wright Inquiry that the full facts in relation to the death of Billy Wright should be established. "I would seek to reassure those who made representations in opposition to conversion that I am confident that the utmost will be done to address their concerns and to maintain public confidence in the inquiry. "I have personally assured David Wright, Billy Wright's father, that the Government will continue to co-operate fully with the inquiry." Portadown Times December 2 nd 2005
London/Dublin clash over Wright probe
Wright's dad to quiz Hain on Inquiry
The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wrigtit says he has still to decide whether or not he will take part in the public Inquiry Into his son's killing. David Wright is to meet with Secretary of State, Peter Hain at Stormont on Thursday. He says he intends to confront Mr Hain over the request by Lord Randal MacLean, the inquiry chairman, to hold it under the the 2005 Inquiries Act. He says those terms would limit its scope into allegations of state collusion into his son's murder by INLA gunmen at the Maze prison in December 1997. "On December 29 th 2004 last year, the' NIO wrote to me saying there were no plans to convert this inquiry into one under the Inquiries Act," he said. "The letter stated the inquiry would continue to be held under the 1953 Prisons Act, and officials had advised Lord MacLean of the position. I want to know what led to the sudden change in policy." David Wright said conversion to the Inquiries Act would lead to an intolerable situation where those under investigation could veto the inquiry. Sunday Life 9th October 2005
Wright inquiry: key witness dead
The inquiry into the jail killing of loyalist
paramilitaiy boss Billy Wright has been left without a key witness following
the death of former Maze governor, Marian Mogg. Mr Mogg, who was the prison
chief at the time of Wright's shooting by INLA inmates in December 1997, was
to have been a leading witness at the public inquiry into the loyalist terrorist's
death. The demise of the former prison governor means that his testimony about
the events leading up to Wright's death won't be heard, and that his knowledge
of crucial Prison Service decisions, which brought LVF and INLA inmates together
in one H-Block, cannot now be probed. At the time Wright was transferred to
the Maze and subsequently murdered, Mr Mogg was both prison governor and director
of operations for the Prison Service. It was he who made the controversial
decision to put the rival loyalist and republican factions in separate wings
of H6. At the time, it was suggested that Mr Mogg believed he had secured
a "gentleman's agreement" from both the INLA and LVF that they would
leave each other alone if they were both housed in separate wings.
He was dubbed "Mr Barraclough" by prison officers, who likened his
manner to the kindly, humane character in the behind bars comedy series Porridge.
News Letter 11th July 2005
All details of Wright's killing must be disclosed
The public inquiry into the murder of
Portadown loyalist paramilitary leader Billy Wright in the Maze Prison in
December 1997 began yesterday with some legitimate concern being expressed
over precisely what information could be released over events surrounding
the killing. The Wright family is very unhappy over a request by inquiry chairman
Lord MacLean to Secretary of State Peter Hain that the hearing should be held
under the remit of controversial new legislation - the Inquiries Act 2005.
There is a suspicion that this legislation will give the Government greater
opportunity to use the argument of national security to mount a cover-up and
block evidence being given on the events before and after the murder. Lord
MacLean, in an opening statement, said the inquiry would be "fully independent
in its outlook and approach", but with accusations of state collusion
in Wright's murder having to be answered there needs to be a totally transparent
process in place to completely allay any fears of an official cover-up. Wright
was a man with an acknowledged track record in terrorist violence over a number
of years, and his paramilitary activities could not in any way be condoned
or excused. However, his ruthless murder by republican prisoners, while he
was in the custody of Her Majesty's Government, was a very serious crime which
should not have been allowed to happen and senior prison authorities do have
some pertinent questions to respond to at subsequent hearings of the inquiry.
All relevant information needs to be disclosed for the public to judge how
and why this murder took place. News Letter 23rd June 2005 –
Morning View
Father seeks legal advice over inquiry
The father of Billy Wright, the loyalist terror boss shot dead inside the Maze Prison, met his lawyers on Tuesday to decide whether to cooperate with the public inquiry into his son's death. David Wright, who campaigned for an inquiry for years, said he would announce a decision soon after a preliminary session of the public inquiry heard from chairman Lord MacLean that he is to ask the Northern Ireland Secretary to convert the inquiry to one held under controversial new legislation - the Inquiries Act 2005. The Government set up the inquiry after retired Canadian Judge Peter Gory examined allegations of state collusion in the murder and three others, including that of solicitor Patrick Finucane, saying there were questions to be answered. The new Inquiries Act has sparked a major row, with opponents claiming it gives the Government greater opportunities to use the argument of national security to mount a cover-up and block evidence being given. Lord MacLean, however, said the new act would give the inquiry a better and clearer framework in which to operate. David Wright, who had initially voiced concerns about the new legislation, said he was uncertain how to react after listening to Lord MacLean. "I will be talking with my legals and we will decide whether to cooperate or not. The broad brush strokes of what his Lordship said make me very happy," said Mr Wright. "But I have to take into consideration that Judge Cory has said very clearly that the Inquiries Act should not be used." Speaking at a Belfast hotel where the opening hearing was held, he said Lord MacLean had made it clear the inquiry could be wider under the new act. But Mr Wright said "This is a balancing act." He said he was concerned that he could "take part in the inquiry for two years and the Government can then move and withhold the report". the inquiry is not expected to start public hearings until next spring. It will examine the murder of the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader who was shot dead in the back of a prison van by the ENLA at the Maze Prison on December 27,1997. The republicans were all .convicted of murder but released soon afterwards under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. In an opening statement, Lord MacLean pledged the inquiry would be "fully independent in its outlook and approach". But he conceded there might be a requirement for security reasons to hear some evidence in private. However, he put down a marker for the Government making it clear he expected full co-operation from the authorities. During the course of the inquiry, he said, the panel might seek to recover or to discover evidence which was of a sensitive nature and which the holder of the information may have concerns about the extent it may be publicly disseminated. News Letter June 23rd 2005
The father of murdered LVF leader, Billy Wright is seeking the minutes of a controversial meeting between ex-Prime Minister John Major and four loyalist politicians. David Wright is using the new Freedom of Information Act to ask the cabinet office to release minutes of the July 1996 meeting at Downing Street, between Mr Major and leading UDP and PUP figures. The meeting sparked a row, because the loyalist delegation including convicted cut-throat sectarian killer, John White. Mr Major was criticised for the meeting, at a time when he was refusing to meet Gerry Adams. The other three loyalists who met Mr Major were David Ervine and Hugh Smyth of the PUP, and UDP's Gary McMichael. In July 1996, the main loyalist paramilitary groups were on ceasefire, but Wright's mid-Ulster UVF group were at forefront of violent protests at Drumcree, and were blamed for the brutal, sectarian murder of Catholic man, Michael McGoldrick. Mr Wright says he wants to know what was said about his son, who was put under a death threat by the UVF the following month, and who was murdered by INLA inmates at Maghaberry jail, 18 months later. He says the minutes should also be available to the forthcoming public inquiry into the loyalist killer's death, chaired by Lord Randal MacLean. Mr Wright said: "I have been reliably informed that Billy Wright was the principal topic discussed at that Downing Street meeting. "It has been alleged one of those present asked the British Government what they intended to do about the 'Wright problem' in mid-Ulster. "I want to see the minutes to verify if those words were used and who said them. "I have also been told what the Government's response was, but I need to verify that information as well." Sunday Life 27th March 2005
Wright threatens to walk from inquiry
The father of Billy Wright has threatened to walk away from the forthcoming inquiry into the LVF leader's murder inside the Maze Prison. David Wright says he will "pull the plug" on the public inquiry, if its terms of reference fail to meet the criteria demanded by his family. Speaking after a visit to the former jail last week, Mr Wright said he was convinced his son's murder could have been prevented. And he claimed it was clear the government had covered up the circumstances of the killing. Mr Wright said an inspection of the prison's emergency control room and command post, showed prison staff had the technology required to stop the INLA killers. "Some of the equipment was still in the emergency control room - cameras, control panels, monitors," Mr Wright said. "The central locking system was also there, and what I saw doesn't tally with what prison authorities have told me. "What I saw in that control room proves this murder could have been prevented, and the British government has suppressed that fact for six years. "Now, they are trying to orchestrate the public inquiry, to ensure the truth remains suppressed. "If the inquiry is not independent, then it is a non-starter, and I will pull the plug on it." 15th August Sunday Life 2004
Wright's Father Set To Visit Prison As Part Of Inquiry
The father of Billy Wright is set to return to the scene of his son's murder inside the former Maze Prison this week. David Wright has been given permission to visit the Maze by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister who are now responsible for the site of the former prison. Mr Wright said the visit was part of his preparations for the forthcoming inquiry into the killing of the LVF leader. He said he would be returning to the Maze next Thursday morning to carry out an inspection of the murder scene on HBlock 6 and to ensure the site has been preserved as evidence for the public inquiry which is expected to get under way in early 2005. Mr Wright has also been given permission to take photographic and video evidence of H-Block 6 during his visit. It is understood this material will be used to assist Mr Wright's legal team prepare for the public inquiry. David Wright said he had been forced to return to the Maze prison after prison authorities refused to release documents and paperwork relating to his son's murder in 1997. He said he had to ensure no alterations had been made to H6 in the years following his son's murder. "H6 must be preserved as evidence for the inquiry," he said. "I have to be certain nothing has been altered or removed from H-Block 6. I don't trust the prison authorities so I must see the place for myself." Mr Wright said his two previous visits to the scene of his son's murder had been emotional and harrowing experiences. He said he hoped this Thursday's visit to the Maze, when he will be accompanied by representatives of British Irish Rights Watch and the Committee for the Administration of Justice, would be the last he would have to make. Meanwhile, Mr Wright said he has also written to the Northern Ireland Prison Service asking to inspect the prison van his son had been sitting in when he was murdered. "The van must also be preserved as evidence for the public inquiry," he said. "However, I have been informed alterations have been made to the interior of the van. "If that is so then I want to know why and on whose authority the changes were made." It is understood the white Ford Transit van is currently stored in a garage within the former Crumlin Road prison, Belfast. News Letter 9th August 2004
Wright death preventable: ex-warder
A former prison officer has made fresh claims that the INLA killing of LVF chief Billy Wright inside the Maze could have been avoided. The ex-officer - who is expected to give evidence at the forthcoming public inquiry into Wright's killing - claimed rival LVF and INLA inmates could have been housed in separate jail blocks. He said accommodation in H Block 2 had been empty in the months leading up to the Wright murder. He claimed it offered an ideal solution to the dangers of housing the two groups in the same H6 Block, particularly as intelligence reports indicated the INLA posed a threat to LVF inmates. "It was a total recipe for disaster," he said. Yesterday, Wright's father David said: "This officer, who has suddenly come out of the woodwork, has confirmed Judge Cory's findings that there was alternative accommodation available at the Maze." The Prison Service declined to comment. A statement said: "As the proposed inquiry will seek to establish the circumstances and facts relating to Billy Wright's death, it is not considered appropriate to respond." Sunday Life 8th August 2004
Wright's father says - I will not be dictated to
The father of murdered LVF chief Billy
Wright will meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Office Belfast on
Wednesday to discuss proposals for the public inquiry into the death of the
loyalist leader. NIO officials contacted David Wright last week offering to
meet with him and his legal team to hear their views on the framework and
the principles which will govern the inquiry into his LVF chief's murder at
the Maze prison in 1997. Earlier this month. Secretary of State Paul Murphy
announced proposals for three inquiries into allegations of state collusion
in the deaths of Rosemary Nelson, Billy Wright and Robert Hamill.
He said the Government would continue to press ahead with the detailed arrangements
for the inquiries, including the appointment of chairmen, as quickly as possible.
However, David Wright accused the government of attempting to impose a one-sided
inquiry on the families. I have serious concerns about these proposals and
I will not be dictated to by Paul Murphy or any NIO bureaucrat," he said.
"What has been proposed is one-side and heavily weighted against the
victim's families. If the British government thinks it can carry out another
whitewash exercise like the Butler and Hut-ton reports, then it can think
again. Tony Blair can put his bucket and brush away now for it's not going
to happen." Mr Wright said the European Court or Human Rights had set
out the need to involve next of kin in such processes to the extent necessary
to safeguard their legitimate interests Lagan Valley DUP MP Jeffrey Donald-son
will accompany Mr Wright to the meeting.. News Letter 26th July 2004
Wright to return to son's Maze murder scene
The father of murdered LVF chief, Billy Wright, is to make a return visit
to the scene of his son's murder by INLA inmates in the former Maze Prison.
Mr Wright and his legal team have been granted permission to visit the scene
by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, who now have responsibility
for the site of the former jail. The Portadown
man said his visit to the Maze prison was to ensure no alterations had been
made to the murder scene or to its surroundings. He
said he also intended to take detailed photographic and video records of the
area, to prepare for the forthcoming public inquiry into the murder of his
son. In a letter to David Wright, the Assembly
office said the area of H Block 6 had remained effectively closed off to all
unauthorised personnel and would remain so until they were instructed otherwise
by the forthcoming inquiry. However, the letter
also said Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, had granted all those named in
the Cory Report into Billy Wright's murder access to the former Maze Prison.
David Wright said he had been left with no alternative but to return to H
Block 6. "My two previous visits to H Block
6 were emotional and harrowing experiences," he said. "However,
this visit is crucial. It is post-Cory and I have additional information which
can be put to the test inside the Maze." The
visit is expected to take place with the next few weeks. The
former prison has now been combined into a 360 acre site know as the Maze
Regeneration Site. It is managed on a day-to-day
basis by the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative Sites Team, based at Stormont.
Sunday Life 18 July 2004
The father of Billy Wright is demanding an immediate meeting with Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, to discuss the lack of progress in setting up a public inquiry into the death of the LVF leader. David Wright said it was now 11 weeks since the Secretary of State had written to inform him the Government intended to implement Judge Peter Cory's recommendation, that a public inquiry be set up into his son's murder. However since then, Mr Wright said he had not received any other details about the public inquiry - or when it was expected to begin work. He claimed the NIO officals had ignored all written requests for information about the inquiry's terms of reference, or who would conduct it. He said he had written to the NIO, last Wednesday, asking for an urgent meeting with Mr Murphy. "The British establishment never expected to be in this position - faced with at least three public inquires, " said David Wright. "In Cory, they believed they had chosen their man well. But, Judge Cory was very much his own man, and surprised them with the thoroughness of his investigation." He said there was also number of other crucial matters, which could only be resolved through a personal meeting with the Secretary of State. In response to Sunday Life questions, an NIO spokesperson said the government was working towards establishing all three public inquires as soon as possible. The spokesperson said work was ongoing to put the necessary steps in place to ensure the inquires would run as effectively as possible, adding that the families would be kept informed of all future developments. Sunday Life 20th June 2004
The Northern Ireland Prison Service has again refused to release official paperwork, about the murder of LVF boss, Billy Wright, to members of his family. David Wright, father of the slain terror chief, claimed the refusal to hand over documentation, was an attempt to stymie his preparations for the forthcoming public inquiry into his son's death. The Wright family contacted the Prison Service, last month, asking for all paperwork relating to the LVF leader's death to be released to them. However, in an e-mail to Mr Wright, the Prison Service refused, saying it would be for a public inquiry to decide who had access to the paperwork and when. Mr Wright said he had first requested documents on his son's murder three years ago. However, in 2001, the Prison Service said it was in the process of collating all information on Billy Wright, for Judge Peter Cory, who had been appointed to investigate allegations of collusion in the murder of the LVF boss. Judge Cory recommended a public inquiry into the jail murder. Mr Wright said: "I understood this material would be released, when Cory finished his investigations. "Now, the Prison Service has again refused to release paperwork. Furthermore, they have the audacity to tell me it's up to an inquiry to decide who can see this documentation and when. "This is the organisation that failed to protect my son," said the Portadown man. "The intelligence services knew the INLA intended to kill Billy Wright inside the Maze," claimed Mr Wright. "However, the days of me begging for information are over. Judge Cory has given me the right to have that information, and I will have that right enforced." 5th June 2004 Sunday Life
Prison Officer Cradled Head Of Dying Wright
A prison officer cradled the head of dying loyalist Billy Wright after he was shot inside the Maze prison, a court heard yesterday. But the horror of the shooting shattered the life of Paul Devitt, the High Court in Belfast was told. "He has never been the same man since," said Mark Horner, QC, opening Mr Devitt's claim for compensation for post traumatic stress disorder. Mr Devitt, 42, from Lisburn, Co Antrim, has now left the prison service and lives in New Zealand with his wife and three children. He was a member of the Instant Reaction Force in the Maze when LVF leader Wright was murdered by three INLA prisoners on December 27, 1997. The killers used guns smuggled into the jail to ambush the man known as "King Rat" as he sat in a prison van to be taken to meet visitors. The trio were convicted of the murder and later released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Devitt sued the Northern Ireland Office and the court was told that liability was admitted. The only issue Mr Justice Higgins had to decide was the amount of damages. But soon after the hearing began Mr Horner told the judge there had been a development in the case and asked a short adjournment. He then announced that the case had been settled and the amount of damages was not disclosed. Outside the court, Mr Devitt declined to be interviewed but his wife Corinne said: "Paul cannot talk about it. We are relieved that it's all over." Mr Horner had earlier told the court about the dramatic events following the shooting in the jail housing the most notorious loyalist and republican terrorists. He said Mr Devitt and other members of the Instant Reaction Force responded to an alarm in H-Block 6 after other prison officers had been assaulted and fired upon. "A visits van was abandoned in the forecourt and he heard prisoners yelling for help," said Mr Horner. "He was told that three armed prisoners were on the loose. "Despite the risks, a decision was taken to try to rescue the prisoners in the van. "Fearless for his own safety, Mr Devitt jumped into the van and saw a prisoner slumped against the back. He took hold of his head and, as the vehicle lurched off, he recognised the prisoner as Billy Wright. "He spoke to him but there was no reply. There was blood splashed all over the van and Mr Devitt ripped open the prisoner's shirt to see if he could staunch the bleeding. "He saw several bullet holes and continued to cradle the prisoner's head until they reached the prison hospital where it was confirmed that Billy Wright was dead." Mr Horner said Mr Devitt returned to H-Block 6 as he knew his unit was short-staffed and remained there until after negotiations had taken place and the three prisoners handed themselves over. "Mr Devitt has suffered severe psychiatric consequences and the medical reports demonstrate that," said Mr Horner. It was at this point that it was announced that the case had been settled. Friday 14th May 2004
The father of murdered LVF leader, Billy Wright, has demanded that his lawyers be allowed to examine the prison visits van, in which his son was shot dead. David Wright made the call following claims that the layout of the van (pictured above) has recently been altered - claims totally denied by the prison service. The van will be evidence in a forthcoming public inquiry into Wright's murder by INLA inmates, at the Maze, in December, 1997. Prison service sources have claimed a number of changes had been made to the interior of the white Transit van, which is stored at the Crumlin Road jail complex. Sources claimed some of the van's original seating, alongside the sliding side door entrance, had been removed and replaced with new tip-up style seats. Other changes had been made to the interior near the van's rear doors. "The new tip-up seating covers the floor, where Wright's body lay, after he had been shot." Prison sources claimed they had taken photographs of the van, which proved its interior had been altered, and the pictures would be made available to the inquiry. But, a spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service, said the vehicle had been preserved as evidence in the Wright case. "There have not been any alterations after the shooting," she said. David Wright said he was alarmed at the claims. "I will be instructing my solicitors to apply to have the van inspected immediately," he said. Sunday Life 25th April 2004
Warders' testimony clash in Wright case
The public inquiry into the murder of Billy Wright will hear conflicting evidence from senior prison staff. A former Maze governor denies standing down the guard on a tower, overlooking the murder scene, just minutes before armed INLA inmates ambushed Wright. But a senior prison officer says the same governor did give the order. Judge Cory highlights the issue in his report, saying: "If the guard was instructed to stand down, that could be found to be a collusive act, aimed at assisting the killers to shoot Billy Wright." The governor was identified only as 'J', in the Cory Report. In a witness statement, 'J', the senior governor on the morning of the shooting, denied ordering a prison officer out of a watchtower overlooking the murder scene, shortly before three INLA killers struck. He did admit standing down the watchtower guards in all other blocks, but stressed he exempted H-Block 6 because it housed rival factions, the LVF and INLA. However, in his statement, a principal officer contradicts the claims. He stated that at 9.10am, on December 27, 1997, he informed the duty governor of a shortage of staff in the prison visits area. "Governor 'J' then told me to close both H6 yard towers, and to send both men over to 'visits'," he said. The officer said he contacted the senior officer in charge of H-Block 6, to tell him of the duty governor's instructions. The decision to stand down the H6 towers was immediately challenged by a representative of the Prison Officers' Association, and the guard was told to return to his post. As he was re-entering the watchtower, he heard the gunfire. The officer claimed he was ordered out of his post on two occasions that morning, and said that had he been at his post when the INLA first climbed onto the roof, he would have raised the alarm immediately. Sunday Life 4th April 2004
Wright enquiry prompts ex-warders to offer new evidence
Former prison officers are queuing up to offer new evidence to a public inquiry
into the jail murder of LVF terror boss, Billy Wright. A number of ex-officers
have said they will provide any public inquiry with evidence about the December
1997 murder, which has never been made public. The claims come only weeks
ahead of the publication of the Cory Report into alleged state collusion in
the Wright murder, and three other high profile cases. Some of the ex-officers,
who worked at the Maze, claim they were not given the chance to give evidence
to any of the previous inquiries into the INLA shooting of Wright. This included
an investigation by HM Inspectors of Prisons, Martin Neary, in January 1998.
"None of the Neary team ever approached us to take statements,"
said one former officer. "There is no way the Neary investigation was
rigorous enough." Others said they had given detailed statements to RUC
detectives investigating the Wright murder. However, the officers claimed
none of them had been called to give evidence at any criminal prosecution
or inquest, arising out of the murder. "We all have information about
the Wright killing which has not yet been made public," one of the officers
said."We won't be holding back." It is understood some of the new
information concerns warnings given to prison management that the INLA were
actively targeting the LVF boss, as early as May 1997. Other information refers
to specific events that took place inside the Maze Prison on the morning the
LVF leader was murdered, with guns smuggled into jail. Last night, David Wright
gave a guarded response to the former officers' comments. "It is late
in the day, but none the less welcome," he said. Sunday
Life 21st March 2004
Judge Peter Cory hints he may go public
Judge Peter Cory has hinted he may defy the Government by making public his reports into four controversial Ulster murder cases. In an interview in a Canadian newspaper, the judge also explained why he had already defied the government by revealing his recommendations to victims' families He suggested he may make "more noise", if the government continues to delay publishing his reports into alleged state collusion in the murders of solicitors Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson; LVF leader Billy Wright; and Portadown man Robert Hamill. Judge Cory told the Toronto Globe: "I have made noises that I considered appropriate... and there may come a time when I make more noise. "There will come a time when, perhaps, I will say there has been a breach of their undertaking to me and ? more importantly ? to victims' families." The government has now had his reports for four months. The 78-year-old ex-Canadian Supreme Court judge spoke of why he told the victims' families he had recommended that inquiries be set up to probe the killings. "I said, in light of media reports that were increasing the concerns of the families, in the name of humanity, couldn't they (the government) simply make the bottom line public? "I said I would have no alternative to make it public, if they didn't. And I did." Last night, the father of Billy Wright urged Judge Cory to publish his reports. David Wright said he now believed the government had no intention of ever publishing any part of the Cory Report. Last week, the Belfast High Court granted David Wright leave to apply for a judicial review of the government's refusal to publish. The Wright hearing, along with similar review applications by the Finucane and Nelson families, are due to be heard in the High Court on March 1st 2004. Sunday Life 8-2-04
Wright dad issues telly challenge to Blair
"What is it about the Cory Report, you want suppressed?" - asks Billy Wright's father of Tony (Lair) Blair
The father of Billy Wright has challenged Tony Blair to a TV debate over the government's refusal to publish the Cory Report on his son's jail murder. David Wright says he believes the government has no intention of ever publishing any of the judge's reports into four controversial Northern Ireland murders, where state collusion was allegedly involved. Sunday Life revealed last week, that Judge Cory had recommended inquiries into the deaths of solicitors Rosemary Nelson and Pat Finucane, Portadown man, Robert Hamill and LVF leader, Wright. On Monday, the Canadian judge contacted the families of all four victims to tell them he had recommended public inquiries and believed they had a right to know. Mr Wright said government claims that it could not publish the reports until adjustments had been made to protect the security of individuals and the criminal process, did not apply in the case of his son's killing by INLA inmates. "There is no criminal prosecution outstanding as the three perpetrators were convicted in October 1998. "The governments reasons for withholding this section of the report doesn't stand up," he said. "Judge Cory is on record as saying he uncovered new information, during his investigations. "I want to know precisely what he has uncovered. "I want Tony Blair to tell me face-to-face what is it about the Billy Wright report that he wants suppressed? " Mr Wright contacted Downing Street on Friday, requesting an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the Cory Report. By Chris Anderson 18th, January 2004 Sunday Life
Cops save jail boss from murder gang
A PRISON governor was dramatically evacuated from his home, last week, amid
fears that a UDA gang was on its way to kill him. The governor was the man
loyalist claim ordered the removal of a sentry from a tower overlooking the
Maze prison courtyard, where LVF leader, Billy Wright, was shot dead. The
45-year-old senior officer was hurriedly placed in a police car, outside his
house, on the outskirts of south Belfast, 10 days ago, after information was
received that loyalists planned to assassinate him. It is believed the attack
was intended to be the UDA's 'big hit' against the Prison Service, following
a statement read by masked men before TV cameras days earlier. "He literally
didn't have time to pack a bag of clothes," a colleague said. "It
was virtually a case of, 'we're the police, you need to get into that car
now, we've to get you out of here pronto'." A spokesman for the Prison
Service confirmed that a governor was moved from his home in recent days,
because of a loyalist threat to kill him. It is believed police had received
vital intelligence information, that the UDA and the LVF had agreed to mount
a joint operation to kill the governor that evening, at his home, where it's
understood he lived alone. "They were insistent that he left that night,
not the next morning or in an hours time even, so they must have received
a late tip-off that the gunmen were literally on their way to his house,"
a Prison Service source said.Loyalists have previously claimed that the senior
officer was the duty governor, in charge on the day Billy Wright was gunned
down inside the Maze Prison by INLA inmates, in December, 1997. Wright was
shot dead in the exercise yard of H-Block 6 as he sat in a prison van, waiting
to be driven to a rare Saturday morning visit. No explanation was given, at
the inquest into Wright's death, why the tower was left unmanned that particular
morning. H6 was the only H-Block shared by deadly enemies in the LVF and the
INLA, and the tower was normally manned around the clock. A governor who gave
the order for the sentry to be stood down did not give evidence at Wright's
inquest, and it is not known if he was made available to speak to retired
Canadian Judge Peter Cory, who has recommended an inquiry into Wright's murder.
The name of a governor, who allegedly gave the order, has appeared on websites
linked to the illegal LVF. Sunday
Life 18th January 2004
Paisley Jnr welcomes inquiry into Billy Wright's death
North Antrim DUP MLA, Ian Paisley Jnr, has today welcomed reports that Canadian Judge, Peter Corry, has recommended that a full inquiry into the death of Billy Wright. Ian Paisley Jnr said,
“Judge Corry’s recommendation to hold an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death in the Maze prison of Billy Wright is to be welcomed. At long last it appears that Mr Wright’s death whilst in prison is to be the subject of independent investigation.
This inquiry must focus on the specific circumstances that gave rise to the murder of Billy Wright. There is much surrounding the death of Billy Wright that gives cause for suspicion including reports that prison authorities knew a murder bid would take place and showed Mr Wright's death could have been prevented. The very fact that Mr Wright was in the custody of the state at the time of his death only adds weight to the need for this sort of inquiry.
Mr Wright’s family have been frustrated at every turn in their search for their truth. I hope that an inquiry can when constituted, can provide the answers that Mr Wright’s family have long sought." DUP website 13th January 2004
Call for inquiry into Wright murder
Unionist MPs today called for a fresh examination of the circumstances surrounding
leading loyalist Billy Wright's killing in jail. Democratic
Unionist deputy leader Peter Robinson and Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson
said they were concerned that the original investigation into the killing
by the Irish National Liberation Army in the Maze prison during Christmas
1997 had not been conducted properly. Emerging from a meeting with Police
Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde, Mr Robinson said: ``In
March of this year Mr Justice Kerr in the High Court indicated that as far
as the Wright case was concerned there had not been an investigation compliant
with the European Convention on Human Rights. ``The obligation is there for
all police services throughout Europe to carry out investigations along certain
standards and it was a view of the High Court judge that that did not occur
in the case of Billy Wright. ``I don`t think anybody argued that the people
who actually carried out the murder were properly convicted and sentenced
although they are now out of prison. ``What is the case is that there was
not a proper investigation into the conditions surrounding the murder and
whether there was any involvement by any organ of the state in the events
leading up to the murder. ``So I think you can understand the situation of
the Wright family when they say there hadn`t been an investigation which has
met the proper standard and we want it carried out.`` Mr Wright was the leader
of the hard-line Loyalist Volunteer Force which broke away from the Ulster
Volunteer Force over its support for the peace process. He was gunned down
in a prison van in December 1997 as he waited to be taken to a prison visit.
Mr Wright`s family have called for an inquiry into a number of controversial
aspects to the killing including the revelation that a tower overlooking the
scene of the shooting was not manned and the security cameras were not working.
It has also been claimed that INLA prisoners were able to hear an announcement
that he had a prison visit.
Retired Canadian judge Peter Cory had investigated the circumstances of Mr
Wright`s killing. He has passed to the British and Irish governments his report
on Mr Wright`s shooting and five other controversial murders during the Troubles
including the killings of lawyers Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson. Ulster
Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he hoped that following the Cory Report
there would be a public inquiry into Mr Wright`s murder. ``Clearly whilst
three INLA members were convicted of the murder of Billy Wright, there are
still very serious questions that need to be addressed about the circumstances
leading up to that murder,`` he said. ``There are questions about how those
INLA members were facilitated by someone unknown in the prosecution of this
murder. ``Now the police have not really in my opinion properly investigated
those issues and it remains to be seen whether judge Cory will recommend a
public inquiry. ``I hope that he does because it may be the only way we will
get at the truth as to how three members of the INLA were able to carry out
this murder in highly suspicious circumstances.`` UTV
Newsroom
MP furious over Chief Constable's snub
DUP deputy leader. Peter Robinson, has
lambasted PSIMI Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, for refusing to meet himself and
a fellow MR to discuss a controversial murder case. A furious Mr Robinson
has written to the PSNI, describing as "disgraceful" Mr Orde's decision
to turn down a request to meet himself and Jeffrey Donaldson. to discuss the
police inquiry into the murder of LVF leader, Billy Wright. The MP requested
the meeting last month, following a High Court judgment, which highlighted
concerns about the police inquiry into the INLA killing of the top loyalist,
at the Maze Prison, in December 1997. Mr Justice Kerr said an inquiry had
not yet taken place, which complied with relevant European human rights legislation.
Mr Orde declined the request by the MPs and Billy Wright's father, David,
saying it was appropriate to await the publication of Judge Cory's report
into the case, rather than prejudge various issues. The Chief Constable's
staff officer wrote to Mr Robinson, saying concerns about the police inquiry
should be raised with the senior investigating officer, who Mr Wright had
refused to meet. In a stinging reply, Mr Robinson said: "I think it is
quite disgraceful that the Chief Constable behaves in this way, refusing to
see elected representatives about a matter relating to a clear failure to
carry out his duty, and that of the PSNI, as stated by the High Court Judge."
The East Belfast MP said Judge Cory's report on whether there should be a
public inquiry into Billy Wright's murder, had no bearing on the PSNI's responsibility
to carry out an investigation, which complied with Judge Kerr's judgment.
He added: "Whatever Mr Wright's intentions may be, in relation to meeting
the senior investigating officer, it does not impact on the request by two
Members of Parliament to meet with the Chief Constable.
"We will be watching very closely the meetings conducted by the Chief
Constable with other Members of Parliament, and highlight in as effective
way as we can, any bias and discrimination by him, if he meets Members of
Parliament on other issues." Sunday Life September 21st 2003
The father of stain LVF chief, Billy Wright,
is to meet the Police Ombudsman in Belfast tomorrow, to discuss his complaint
about the police inquiry into his son's murder. David Wright lodged a formal
complaint with the Ombudsman's office in April this year, alleging police
officers had failed to investigate allegations of state collusion in his son's
murder. However, despite a number of requests, the PSNI has failed to respond
to the Police Ombudsman's request for documents on the Wright murder. Mr Wright
will raise his concerns tomorrow with Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman.
Sunday Life 21st 2003
Finucane and Wright murders may get Bloody Sunday-style inquiries
RETIRED Canadian judge Peter Cory is set to recommend major now inquiries
Into at least four cases involving alleged British or Irish security force
collusion. It is understood that Judge Gory, who is due to report to the British
and Irish governments on October 7, is set to recommend Bloody Sunday-style
public inquiries into the murders of solicitor. Pat Finucane and LVF terror
chief, Billy Wright. He is also expected to announce fresh investigations
- either public inquires or independent commission inquiries - into the 1999
loyalist murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson, and the 1989, IRA double-murder
of two RUC officers, Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan, after they left
a meeting with Garda, in Dundalk.
But controversy is raging over how Judge Cory's report into six murder cases-
all allegedly involving British or Irish state collusion - will be presented.
It has emerged that his reports will be sent to both the British and Irish
governments, who both agreed at the Weston Park talks in 2001, to accept the
international judge's recommendations. However both Dublin and London will
have the power to censor the reports - on security grounds - before they are
made public. The families of the victims will only receive the amended reports
at the same time as they are put into the public domain. It is understood
that members of solicitor Rosemary Nelson's family are to meet with Secretary
of State, Paul Murphy tomorrow night to discuss the Cory collusion inquiry
Meanwhile, David Wright, the father of Billy might, says he's furious that
the two governments will have the opportunity to censor Judge Cory's reports
before he has the opportunity to see it. "It shuts the door on five years
of effort by myself to uncover the truth he said. A public inquiry into the
1889 UFF killing of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane has long been anticipated
- an investigation by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens has
already highlighted concerns over the involvement by RUC Special Branch and
Army Force , Research Unit agents. But informed sources say the judge will
also recommend a ' full public inquiry into the Maze Prison murder of LVF
boss Billy Wright, by INLA inmates. There was much publicity last week about
an internet report that the prison service and an NIO minister had been alerted
an INLA plot to kill Wright, five months before the December 1997 ambush.
The story was actually broken by Sunday Life in July this year, when we reported
how the Prison Officers Association had given the warning to Stormont ' Minister
Adam Ingram, at a meeting, in July 1997.One man who gave evidence to Judge
Cory has now told Sunday Life how the judge said he believed collusion in
such cases could be either "active or passive" - in other words
there could be collusion if state officials failed to act upon intelligence
about a murder plot. Sunday Life September 21st 2003
Prison authorities were told exactly who
would kill Billy Wright and how they would do it - two months before the LVF
leader was murdered in the Maze.
This is the shock revelation which has been hidden in police files for more
than five years but has now been made public.
The News Letter has been passed sections of the police file on the Wright
case confirming this. MP Peter Robinson referred to the same papers under
Parliamentary privilege on June 19 this year.
At the weekend, some of the documents from the file appeared on the internet,
posted on the website www.cryptome.org.
Only nine pages of prison papers and statements - a very small sample of police
documentation - were put up on the site.
There is other material which raises great concern not on the site.
Included is a crucial statement from prison officer Geoffrey Gilliam that
highlights the prison authorities' failure to protect Wright.
His statement was signed and dated December 30, 1997, three days after the
murder, carried out by INLA inmates Christopher 'Crip' McWilliams, John Kenaway
and John Glennon.
The killers scaled the roof of H Block 6, which housed the LVF and INLA in
segregated wings, and McWilliams shot Wright as he sat in a van in the forecourt
waiting to be taken to the visiting centre.
Mr Gilliam revealed in his statement that he and another officer had warned
two months beforehand that this could happen.
It said: ''Regarding the recent incident of shooting of prisoner Wright, we
had made governors fully aware of our thoughts (on October 24, 1997).
"We had named the prisoners involved, the way in which it could be carried
out, eg: over the roof or through a window; we also told the governors of
our gut feeling that prisoner McWilliams was planning something along with
prisoners Glennon and Kennaway [sic].''
This prophetic and specific warning could be vital to Wright's father David
in his quest for a public inquiry into the murder and his claim that it involved
State sanction or complicity.
Journalist Chris Anderson - whose book The Billy Boy deals with the LVF leader's
life and death - said the Gilliam statement at the very least vindicated suspicions
of collusion.
When coupled with other warnings to the prison governors and the Government
it appears even more significant. The website also noted that another prison
officer warned governors in May 1997 about his concerns that McWilliams was
planning an operation.
This is now confirmed in a "halfsheet" filed by Prison Officer M
on May 29, 1997, which has been passed to the News Letter.
The site also noted that a Stormont minister was warned that INLA prisoners
were threatening to murder LVF inmates at the Maze - five months before Wright
was shot dead.
Representatives of the Prison Officers' Association gave the warning during
a meeting with NIO Minister Adam Ingram on July 7, 1997, cryptome.org reveals.
An agenda of the meeting confirms that the POA said INLA inmates had told
staff "they intend, given a chance, to take out the LVF".
The POA said precautions had been put in place to ensure inmates from the
two terror groups did not come into contact with each other.
But POA sources said Mr Ingram was also told prison officers had grave concerns
over security measures in H Block 6, where Wright and the LVF were housed.
It is understood many of these issues had not been tackled when Wright was
killed.
These and other warnings led Mr Robinson to use Parliamentary privilege on
June 19 to highlight the case. He asked: "Who took the decision to do
nothing? Who took the decision to allow Billy Wright to be murdered?"
He told the Commons: "The contents of this file give rise to a number
of very serious questions about the failure of the authorities to heed any
one of a number of warnings from various prison staff before the murder of
Mr Wright.
"The governors were told about concerns about camera coverage, about
the dropping of the guard at the watchtowers and over arrangements relating
to visits.
"All of these concerns were ignored and the officers were left with the
impression that their warnings had been a waste of time and that no corrective
measures would be taken.''
* The papers referred to above were passed to the News Letter anonymously
and will be returned to the police. September
16th 2003 Newsletter
King Rat's dad refused access to information
The identity of the governor responsible
for standing down watchtowers, at Maze prison, minutes before LVF leader,
Billy Wright, was murdered, is recorded in a logbook kept by a senior prison
officer on duty on that day.
Prison Officers Association sources told Sunday Life, that specific details
of Wright's murder had been recorded in the H-Block 6 senior officers journal
to? Saturday, December 27,1997.
POA sources said the journal - an official Prison Service document - contained
vital information on events inside H-Block 6 prior to, and immediately after,
the murder of the LVF boss.
It is understood the logbook was among a number of documents retained by the
Prison Service, after the closure of the Maze.
."This document contains sensitive information about the circumstances
of Billy Wright's murder," said the source.
It will tell his family all they need to know about what exactly happened
inside H-Block 6 between 8am and 10.30am, on the morning of December 27,1997."
As well as detailing events in-side H-Block 6, the prison journal also contains
the names of previously unidentified senior prison officials.
Among those named is the prison governor responsible for standing down the
watchtowers, at H-Block 6, only minutes before Wright's killers struck.
Last night, Wright's father, David, said he had been made aware of the existence
of the journal.
"In the past, the Prison Service has constantly refused to allow me access
to any material relating to events inside the Maze, on the morning my son
was murdered," he said.
"1 have asked the prison authorities to release it to my solicitors immediately."
Meanwhile, Sunday Life has learned that the head of the Collusion Inquiry,
Judge Peter Gory has already been given access to prison records, statements
and journals relating to the murder of the LVF boss. Sunday
Life 31st August 2003
Wright's Dad 'elated' over judge's ruling
Billy Wight's father last night declared
himself "elated" at a judge's ruling that he can see statements
from prison officers on duty the morning the LVF leader was shot.
At the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Brian Kerr said David Wright can see
the depositions made by the two men, listed as witnesses but not called to
give evidence at his son's inquest.
And the judgment, he believes, has vindicated his view that he is entitled
to an independent inquiry into the killing.
The hearing ended a long legal fight to get hold of the documents, which Mr
Wright believes may aid him in his fight to find the full truth of his son's
murder.
The coroner had agreed to their release, but this was opposed by the Chief
Constable.
Mr Wright told the News Letter yesterday: "I'm elated. It's been a long
haul, but I was confident that the outcome couldn't be anything different.
"All I want is to find out the truth and Judge Kerr has basically indicated
that in his judgment.
"Why such eminent people as the Chief Constable should deter me from
doing that, I'm amazed at that.
"All I was after was disclosure of documentation that may assist me to
further the investigation as regards the murder of my son.
"This is a precedent because there's no end of eases in a similar situation,
needing disclosure to further their inquiries."
He said his legal team will now look at the documents to see if they help
his bid for a fresh inquiry into the shooting of Billy Wright by INLA prisoners
in the Maze on December 27,1997. NewsLetter 8th July 2003
Wright's father wins battle to see files
The father of LVF leader Billy Wright is entitled to see police files relating to the investigation into his son's murder in the Maze Prison, a judge ruled today. In the High Court Mr Justice Kerr said the Chief Constable's opposition to the release of two statements to David Wright was "not well founded."
Coroner John Lecky had agreed to release the statements to Mr Wright but the Chief Constable objected. Mr Wright, who believes there was State collusion in his son's killing by the INLA in 1997, said afterwards: "I am happy that the judge has vindicated my stand even though it has taken two and a half years to get a ruling that I am entitled to the disclosure of this documentation." "It is a victory for common sense as the Coroner had agreed to facilitate me and then the Chief Constable intervened." Mr Justice Kerr said: "The fact that the statements came from the police file does not cloak them with automatic immunity from disclosure." Belfast Telegraph online 8th July 2003
A leaked police report proves that the prison murder of loyalist terror leader Billy Wright could have been prevented by the authorities, an MP claimed. Peter Robinson said the confidential report into the 1997 shooting at the top security Maze Prison showed that a series of very specific warnings were made. The Democratic Unionist MP renewed calls for an independent public inquiry into the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader`s death and accused the government of a cover-up. He said the contents of the report - which the High Court in Belfast refused to release to the terror boss`s father in March - raised suggestions of collusion in the death. Northern Ireland Minister Jane Kennedy dismissed the allegations and said prison governors in Ulster were "inundated with rumours and warnings". She told the Belfast East MP in a short Commons debate the death was regrettable but efforts had been made to manage the risk posed to Wright at the prison.
Mr Robinson said a copy of the contents of the report into Wright`s murder by members of the republican INLA had been sent to him anonymously. ``The contents strengthen the call for a full public inquiry. The contents of this file give rise to a number of very serious questions about the failure of the authorities to heed any one of a number of warnings from various prison staff before the murder of Mr Wright. ``The file shows that in the months leading up to the murder, prison governors were personally and in correspondence, warned about security at H-Block 6. ``They were warned about the danger of an attack, they were warned about how an attack would take place and they were even given the names of the prisoners who would be involved. ``The file also shows that prisoners, some of whom were subsequently involved in the murder, were reported examining the fence and determining how to get through it. ``The governors were told about concerns about camera coverage, about the dropping of the guard at the watchtowers and over arrangements relating to visits. ``All of these concerns were ignored and the officers were left with the impression that their warnings had been a waste of time and that no corrective measures would be taken.`` He said it contained details of statements showing that government ministers had been acquainted with the concerns over security at the prison. Government claims in the Commons in the months before the murder that security had been tightened were ``at total variance with the contents of the police file``. He said the file contained details of how prison staff watched INLA prisoners - under guise of painting a mural - watching the movements of UVF prisoners. ``Experienced officers were able to identify the intended target and the INLA prisoners involved.
"They were even able to advise the governor how the attack was to be carried out. Peter Robinson, ``No responsible governor would have ignored these warnings. ``Given the highly political sensitivity of the intended attack, did the governor contact the Northern Ireland office? Did officials there inform the minister?
``We don`t know because, bizarre as it seems, these matters were not investigated.`` Mr Robinson said the INLA prisoners had been ``openly threatening`` the murder which was therefore predictable. ``More than that, we now know that in precise detail it was predicted and in good time for action to be taken. ``It could clearly therefore have been prevented. Why it was not must be established. ``Who took the decision to do nothing. Who took the decision to allow Billy Wright to be murdered? ``I am concerned that the government are actively attempting to conceal the full details of this murder.`` An investigation by former prison service director Martin Narey was ``patently a face-saving farce``, he said. ``Even at this stage the cover-up had begun.``
He said the police file included a memo from a detective chief inspector noting that ``during interview some prison officers have expressed concerns that complaints made to senior officers seem to have fallen on deaf ears. It was agreed that no prison officers` statements would be made available to anyone other than the police``. ``What does that intention to conceal mean? Is it in line with the fact that these matters never came out at the subsequent court case? ``Is it the same reason that the crucial witnesses were absent?`` He said the level of negligence in the prison leading up to the murder ``can only be explained by way of deliberate intention``. ``The conviction of Billy Wright`s murderers should not have marked the end of the investigation but merely the beginning of the next phase.`` He said that having read the file he agreed with the assessment of Mr Justice Kerr in the High Court that a proper investigation ``has not yet taken place``.
And he backed the ruling that Wright`s father, who had been ``tireless and assiduous``, had a human right to a proper inquiry. He said: ``When, as in the case of Billy Wright, someone is shot and murdered in the highest security jail in Europe and six years on so many questions remain unanswered, I believe only a full public inquiry can settle this inquiry once and for all. ``Evidence which suggests officers of the state either turned a blind eye to the murder or, worse, were actively involved in facilitating it, cannot be ignored. ``The government have been ducking and weaving for too long, it is time for them to act.`` Ms Kennedy expressed the government`s ``regret`` at the death and said it was ``most sorely felt`` by Wright`s family. She criticised Mr Robinson for disclosing the contents of the report in public without first having talked to ministers and prison chiefs about its implications. The Narey report was a ``very serious report`` which had answered many of the questions raised about the murder. ``It is our view that the death has been adequately investigated,`` she said. ``Three men have been convicted for the murder as a result of the police investigations.
``The findings of the coroner`s court concurred with that outcome. ``The judgment of Mr Justice Kerr was against releasing the police file. However, the judge did comment that none of the inquiries in his view held so far had satisfactorily answered a number of aspects.`` But he had also said he would review his decision after the retired Canadian judge appointed by the British and Irish governments to investigate killings involving allegations of collusion by the security forces had finished his inquiry, she said. Peter Cory is looking into six controversial cases. UTV website 20th June 2003
DUP fury at Wright killing response
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson today described as disgraceful the Government's response to his leaking of a police report that he claims proves that the murder of loyalist Billy Wright could have been prevented.
A document purporting to be a copy of the police file into the killing of LVF leader Wright showed that a series of very specific warnings were made, Mr Robinson alleged in the House of Commons last night. The East Belfast MP said the confidential report into the 1997 shooting at the top security Maze Prison raised suggestions of collusion in the death.
Mr Robinson said that he was not someone "who reacts to each and every incident by calling for a public inquiry" because "such an approach devalues the currency of such a call". "But when a man is shot and murdered in the highest security prison in Europe, and today, six years on, so many questions remain unanswered; I believe that only a full public inquiry can settle this matter once and for all."
The High Court in Belfast refused to release the contents of the report to the terror boss's father in March. NIO Minister Jane Kennedy dismissed the allegations and said prison governors in Ulster were "inundated with rumours and warnings".
She told Mr Robinson in a short Commons debate the death was regrettable but efforts had been made to manage the risk posed to Wright at the prison. She criticised the MP for disclosing the contents of the report in public without first having talked to Ministers and prison chiefs about its implications. Belfast Telegraph June 20th 2003
MP 'has Wright murder details'
Democratic Unionist MP Peter Robinson says
he has received new information about the murder of loyalist Billy Wright.
The East Belfast MP told the Commons on Thursday he was anonymously sent what
he believed to be the police file on Wright's murder. Wright, 37, leader of
the splinter group the Loyalist Volunteer Force, was shot dead while serving
a sentence in the Maze prison on 27 December 1997. He was killed by three members
of the republican paramilitary Irish National Liberation Army.
Mr Robinson told MPs the document reported that prison authorities knew a murder bid would take place and showed Wright's death could have been prevented. Mr Robinson called for a full public inquiry into Wright's death.
In response, Northern Ireland Security Minister Jane Kennedy said the government's view was that a public inquiry was unnecessary as the death had been adequately investigated. Billy Wright was murdered in the Maze Prison in December 1997. In March this year, the High Court in Belfast dismissed an application by Wright's father, David, to gain access to the police's file on the killing.
Mr Justice Kerr dismissed the 70-year-old's application for a judicial review of the decision by former Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan to refuse access to the file. The judge said Mr Wright had been concerned that there may have been collusion on the part of the authorities that facilitated his son's murder. Mr Justice Kerr said he was satisfied that an investigation compatible with human rights legislation had not yet taken place.
Assessment
A judge appointed by the British and Irish Governments to investigate killings involving allegations of collusion by the security forces with paramilitaries on both sides of the Irish border has finished his assessment of Wright's murder. Retired Canadian judge Peter Cory announced in April he was halfway through examining six controversial cases including the murders of the lawyers Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson.
The government is committed to holding a public inquiry into any of the deaths if the judge recommends it in his final report, which is expected in the autumn. Mr Justice Cory's recommendations on these two cases are being kept at an unspecified location in Canada along with his findings on the Wright case.
In May 2002, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission called for an independent, international inquiry into Wright's murder. The commission said that, having examined all the facts of the case, it believed such a process was the most likely way to establish what happened. Wright founded the LVF after splitting away from the mainstream paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force. BBC online click here
Judge visits scene of Billy Wright murder
The international judge, who is probing allegations of collusion in the murder of Billy Wright, has visited the Maze Prison where the LVF leader was gunned down by INLA inmates. Judge Peter Cory and members of his 'police team', including a number of former detectives from UK forces, visited the scene at H Block 6, where Wright was shot dead, in December 1997.
A source within the Prison Service confirmed the retired Canadian Supreme Court Judge and his team visited the now empty jail, on January 28. Although the jail has been closed for some time, prison authorities made special arrangements to have H Block 6 re-opened to allow Judge Cory and his associates to carry out a detailed examination of the murder scene.
It is understood the Cory team were given access to all areas of H Block 6, including the canteen area of A and B wings, from where the INLA killers claimed to have watched, as Billy Wright made his way to a waiting prison van. Judge Cory and his team of investigators also stood in the observation tower overlooking the exercise yards, where the INLA killers had cut a hole on the security fencing.
Minutes before Wright's killers struck, a prison officer on duty in the same observation tower had been ordered to quit his post. The Prison Service source claimed Judge Cory and his team "went through the sequence of events relating to the murder of Billy Wright".
The Wright family are due to hand over a lengthy legal submission on the murder of the LVF leader to Judge Cory at his Belfast office, next Wednesday.
Judge Cory and his team are investigating a series of controversial killings, including those of solicitors Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson. Sunday Life 9th February 2003
Investigation of security forces and British Government into Billy Wright's death
The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright last night said the investigation into allegations of security force collusion in his son’s murder in the Maze prison five years ago would shine a lot of light into dark corners. David Wright, whose son was shot inside the high-security jail by three INLA inmates on December 27 1997, repeated his claims that his son’s murder was “state-sponsored and state-arranged”. As the judge charged with examining the murder of the Portadown loyalist prepared to move his inquiry team from London to Belfast, Mr Wright told the Irish News last night: “All I’m looking for is the truth and nothing short of it.” Retired Canadian Supreme Court judge Peter Cory was appointed in May this year by the British and Irish governments to investigate alleged security force collusion in six controversial killings. Mr Justice Cory is also investigating the murders of solicitors Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson, RUC detectives Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson; and Portadown teenager Robert Hamill. Mr Wright met with the judge in London before Christmas. “I was able to put to him my concerns about the way the case was being handled and confront him with one or two issues I was concerned about,” Mr Wright said. “He was a good listener and told me he will be meticulous in the task he has been set.” Mr Justice Cory will focus on investigating the Billy Wright killing from February 1. “He already has an amount of knowledge about my son’s case, which is encouraging,” said Mr Wright. “I don’t want anyone hurt or harmed, I just want answers about what really happened to my son. “If the investigation is as meticulous as the judge says it will be, and as thorough as Tony Blair claims, it will shine a lot of light into dark corners.” Mr Wright said a smokescreen was thrown up whenever he asked difficult questions about his son’s murder but that Judge Cory had promised to be meticulous in his investigation. “I realise there is a long way to go and that this whole case could open up a whole can of worms about the state’s invol-vement in my son’s death, but I am determined the truth will be made known,” Mr Wright said. Although it is just over five years since Billy Wright was killed his influence as a leading loyalist remains strong. Memorial notices placed by loyalists in a Belfast evening newspaper on Saturday paid tribute to Wright’s “foresight, unselfishness and courage”. “No verse, no flowers, no words can say how Northern Ireland still misses you today”, read one. Another added: “To save our country, you tried. A true loyalist you died. Remembered daily by friends in Mid Ulster.” December 31st 2002 Irish News
LVF challenge the Belfast Agreement at Billy Wright's service
The LVF has issued a hard-line anti-Agreement statement at a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the murder of terror group's founder, Billy Wright. Around 100 people gathered in Portadown on Friday in memory of the loyalist leader, who was shot by the INLA inside the Maze Prison on December 27, 1997. And, an LVF spokesman revealed that, as of next year, the group intends to raise the profile of the graveside ceremony. The aim is to turn the anniversary into a major loyalist event - comparable to the republican Wolfe Tone commemoration, at Bodenstown. A report by Canadian Judge, Peter Cory into Wright's controversial death is due to be published in October 2003 - just ahead of next year's anniversary. In a statement read at Friday's ceremony, the LVF leadership dubbed the Belfast Agreement the "Irish Peace Process". And, they repeated allegations of British collusion in the murder of Wright, inside the Maze. "Billy was deemed an obstacle to the peace process, and he was selected out as the real leader of the opposition to government plans to implement their Irish peace process." The LVF said their alternative to the current stalled peace process was a devolved parliament "free from paramilitary membership". Sunday Life 29th December 2002
Billy Wright's father brings PM to book
The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright is to confront Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street this week. David Wright will travel to London to hand the Prime Minister a copy of a new took, which highlights unanswered questions surrounding the murder of the top loyalist paramilitary inside the Maze in December 1997. It is understood Mr Wright will visit Number 10 Downing Street on Wednesday morning, where he intends to deliver a copy of The Billy Boy, by freelance journalist Chris Anderson, to Mr Blair. Mr Wright said he also Intended to hand a copy of the book to the office of retired Canadian Judge, Peter Gory, the head of the Collusion Investigation charged with examining the circumstances of Billy Wright's death. The Portadown man said he had no difficulty in confronting the Prime Minister over his son's murder. "Why should I be hi awe of Tony Blair? It's him that won't meet with me, "In May 1999, he wrote and told me the circumstances of my son's death had been the subject of thorough and rigorous investigation. That statement has subsequently been proven to be absolute and utter rubbish," said David Wright. It is understood Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson will accompany Mr Wright during his visit to Number 10 Downing Street, on Wednesday morning. 17th November 2002 Sunday Life
Fresh doubt cast on killer's bloody end
Fresh evidence has emerged to cast serious doubts on the INLA's version of how they killed LVF chief Billy Wright inside the high security Maze Prison. David Wright, the father of the murdered loyalist, says the new material backs up his belief that there was state collusion in the killing of his son. Mr Wright helped compile the evidence himself, during two harrowing fact-finding visits to the Maze. During a visit to the jail on March 9, 2001 he was accompanied by, among others, his lawyer and a chartered consultant engineer, who carried out a detailed examination of the scene. Mr Wright believes the engineer's report, together with other information compiled, show that both the INLA's version of how they killed his son - and official reports into of the murder - just do not add up. There is no doubt as to who actually killed Billy Wright. Three INLA prisoners - Christopher 'Crip' McWilliams, John Kennaway and John Glennon carried out the ambush, using two guns smuggled into the jail. On the morning of December 27 1997, the trio climbed through a pre-cut hole in the metal fence of the INLA's exercise yard at H block 6. They clambered on to the roof of the block and jumped down onto the forecourt of H6, where a prison visits van was carrying Wright and fellow LVF inmate, Norman Green. McWilliams produced a semi-automatic pistol and held up the van. Glennon, armed with a Derringer pistol, and McWilliams ran around the side of the van and pulled opened the sliding door. McWilliams fired a single shot at Wright who tried to fight off his attackers. Forced back, McWilliams aimed three more shots into Wright's torso, killing the LVF leader. In April 1999, the INLA released a detailed account of the split second operation to execute Wright in the republican newspaper, The Starry Plough. The INLA had never released such details of an operation before, and were clearly angered by suggestions that they had colluded with elements in the British state. But the INLA's, account and later interviews given by McWilliams do not tally with what David Wright and his party found at the Maze. One vital part of the INLA's account describes how Glennon was able to signal to his accomplices that Billy Wright had entered the prison van. The INLA claimed Glennon had stood on a table in the canteen area, looked out of a window, and watched Wright enter the van. It claimed he had a clear view of the forecourt area from the canteen window. However, the INLA theory was tested and proven to be incorrect. In fact, David Wright's party found it would have been impossible for anyone to have seen out of the frosted wire type glass windows, let alone recognise any individual in the forecourt area. How then did the INLA unit know precisely when to launch their murder attack? Controversy has raged over the fact that a prison officer was twice ordered to stand down from the watchtower overlooking the INLA exercise yard, on the morning of Billy Wright's murder. The INLA have claimed that they did not know the tower was unmanned. They claimed their plan took into account that an officer would be on duty in the tower and that he would activate the alarm when he saw the INLA men breach the fence. This would lead to all gates being automatically locked and the van containing Billy Wright would be trapped in the forecourt - giving the INLA time to complete the operation. An official report into the murder also claimed that Wright's life could not have been saved if the tower had been manned. But this was contradicted by the Prison Officers' Association, which said in a memorandum to the Select Committee on NI Affairs: "In fact the murder of Billy Wright could have been avoided had the H6 observation tower not been stood down . . . " Timing was crucial. And the INLA claimed their operation to kill Billy Wright "took less than 90 seconds from start to finish", while an official report suggests in took even less time. But the report by the engineer indicates the total time would have been around two minutes. Crucially, it would have taken the INLA unit one full minute from passing through the fence to reaching the prison van. The INLA team would have been clearly visible from the watchtower. And once the alarm was raised, it would have been obvious to officers that Billy Wright was the likely target. Even if the officer in the watchtower failed to see the three INLA prisoners at that point, he would have seen the first man attempt to climb onto the prison roof area. From that point, there was still an estimated time of 45 seconds. The standard drill would have been for the officer to set off the alarm, and then turn his attention to securing all possible exit points. The sounding of the alarm would also have alerted Billy Wright, who was aware of INLA threats. He would have had time to walk back to the block entrance or to the main gate airlock, which was already partially open. The engineer's report and the timings of the murder certainly indicate that had the observation post been manned, then the outcome of the events of Saturday, December 27, 1997 might well have been very different. New evidence has also emerged about the wire cutters that the INLA team surrendered after the attack. David Wright managed to obtain a section of metal fencing identical to that at the Maze Prison. And by careful study of photographs it proved possible to identify and obtain a set of identical wire cutters. It was the intention to carry out a reconstruction but it was discovered that the set of wire cutters proved to be too large to fit through the spaces of the high-grade steel fencing, let alone cut through the individual metal strands. Sunday life newspaper Date 6-10-2002
Collusion probe bars NIO staff
The father of slain LVF boss Billy Wright has succeeded in having all NIO officials excluded from the forthcoming inquiry into the murder by retired Canadian judge, Peter Cory.
The move follows a recent heated meeting at Castle Buildings between David Wright and Secretary of State Dr John Reid. During the course of the meeting, the loyalist leader's father told Dr Reid he would not accept any NIO involvement in the investigation into his son's 1997 killing by INLA inmates at the Maze Prison.
The Wright family's concerns were subsequently brought to the attention of Judge Peter Cory by the human rights group, British Irish Rights Watch Judge Cory has now made it clear he will not be accepting NIO staff as administrative support to what is now officially known as the Collusion Investigation.
The judge said it was important there was no suggestion that his investigations were not independent, but stressed his decision was no reflection on the individual NIO staff concerned. However, it has also emerged that at least two other members of the Collusion Investigation team have been seconded from the Lord Chancellor's department in London. Yesterday, Mr Wright called for the removal of the Lord Chancellor's staff, saying their presence was "totally and utterly unacceptable". "If Judge Cory needs administrative staff then he should recruit them from his native Canada."
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Collusion Investigation will have access to all the material collected by the Steven's Inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. The Finucane murder will be the first case to be examined by Judge Cory, who will be supported by Canadian lawyers James O'Reilly and Renee Pomerance. August 25th 2002 http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=327553
Get rid of officials, Wright tells probe judge
A top judge has been urged to get rid of five Government officials aiding his new probe into the murder of loyalist paramilitary chief Billy Wright. After talks with Secretary of State John Reid, the terror boss's father, David Wright, yesterday claimed the investigation's independence was under serious threat. Mr Justice Cory is examining six controversial murder cases dogged by claims of security force collusion, including the LVF leader's assassination. During the talks in Belfast Mr Wright was told three Northern Ireland Office staff and two officials from the Lord Chancellor's department were providing assistance. But he insisted: "The judge has to get rid of these five and make clear water between himself and the NIO." Mr Wright had gone to Castle Buildings at Stormont seeking assurances from Dr Reid that the Government would not withhold documents relating to his son's death from the judge. Billy Wright was gunned down by INLA inmates at the Maze Prison in December 1997. Mr Justice Cory (76) was appointed by the British and Irish governments to investigate unsolved murders involving allegations of collusion by security forces on both sides of the border to determine if there should be public inquiries. But Mr Wright claimed no progress at the meeting because of his alarm around the Government's role in the probe. "I was surprised they were so open about it," he said. "The audacity in my opinion was staggering because I don't trust the NIO and they know that." With Mr Justice Cory due back in Northern Ireland next month, Mr Wright vowed to confront him about his concerns. Dr Reid insisted he wanted to ensure the best way of addressing concerns surrounding the killings. He said: "The Government is committed to co-operating fully with the investigations, and to ensuring that Mr Justice Cory has the support and resources he needs to carry it out." It is understood the judge will first scrutinise the death of solicitor Pat Finucane in February 1989. He is also to investigate the deaths of Lord Justice Maurice and Lady Cecily Gibson, who were killed by the IRA in April 1987, and Rosemary Nelson, who was killed by loyalists in March 1999. The murders of two senior RUC officers, Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, who were allegedly set up for an IRA ambush by a renegade police officer in the Republic, will also be examined. Publication Date: 01 August 2002
Billy Wright was murdered in the Maze prison in 1997 The father of the murdered loyalist leader Billy Wright is to seek assurances that the government will disclose all information over the death. David Wright is to meet the secretary of state at Stormont on Wednesday. Wright, leader of the loyalist paramilitary splinter group the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF), was shot dead while serving a sentence in the Maze prison on 27 December 1997. David Wright: Believes son's killing was a result of conspiracy He was killed by three members of the republican paramilitary Irish National Liberation Army. The killing is one of a number of controversial cases being investigated by a judge appointed by the British and Irish governments. David Wright said he would be asking Secretary of State John Reid not to withhold documents relating to the murder of his son. 'Public inquiry' In May, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission called for an independent, international inquiry into the murder. The commission said that, having examined all the facts of the case, it believed such a process was the most likely way to establish what happened. Chief Commissioner Professor Brice Dickson, said it was commission's view that that "a full-scale public inquiry should be initiated". Mr Wright's father has been pressing for an inquiry into his son's murder. He believes that the authorities colluded in the murder in the high security prison. His son, from Portadown in County Armagh, founded the LVF splitting away from the mainstream paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force. Wednesday, 31 July, 2002
The father of murdered LVF boss, Billy Wright, says he will not accept a judge appointed ONLY by the British and Irish governments to probe his son's jail killing.
David Wright was speaking out ahead of an expected announcement. The two governments are set to appoint an international judge to probe controversial killings - including those of solicitors Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson, and Billy Wright. But David Wright says he won't accept a judge 'hand picked' by the British government to investigate itself.
He insists human rights groups must be consulted. "I have informed both governments that unless the designated judge is acceptable to British/Irish Rights Watch and the Committee on the Administration of Justice, then my family will not accept the appointment," he told Sunday Life. "
I am making it clear here and now that the Wright family will not accept the British government hand-picking a judge to investigate itself." Sunday Life Sunday 24 February 2002
Wright's father angry at inquiry refusal
The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright today attacked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission after its refusal to support calls for a public inquiry into his son's murder inside the Maze prison in 1997. David Wright said "serious questions" must now be asked about the NIHRC. Last year a representative of the Commission accompanied Mr Wright and his legal team into the Maze prison to see at first hand the murder scene.
However, despite the visit and the subsequent areas of concern which have come to light in the four years since Billy Wright's death, the Commission has said it cannot support the call for a public inquiry at this time.
Yesterday, Mr Wright accused members of the Commission of having been influenced by the media-created perception of what his son was alleged to be.
"Recently, Brice Dickson told a conference in Dublin Castle that he was sufficiently convinced that the security forces were involved in the murder of Pat Finucane. "He backed calls for an independent, judicial inquiry into the death saying the proposed investigation as agreed at Weston Park would not go far enough," he said.
"However, Professor Dickson, despite the quality of evidence he has been given and an admission by the NIO that public concern exists over my son's death, expects my family to accept that very same Weston Park inquiry he said was incapable of investigating the Finucane killing."
Mr Wright said that, through no wish of his family, his son's murder had taken on an emblematic status within the loyalist community . Mr Wright said it would be difficult for that community to understand why the Human Rights Commission had backed calls for an inquiry into the Finucane murder but not that of Billy Wright. Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner Brice Dickson disputed Mr Wright's claims that the Commission had been influenced by the media created perception of Billy Wright. Belfast Telegraph Tuesday, 29 January 2002
Father alleges state collusion in killing
Belfast High Court has been told that the father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright believes there was state collusion when the inla shot his son in the Maze prison. David Wright, 69, wants to see the police investigation file so he can determine whether or not agents of the state were involved in the 1997 murder. The PSNI have refused to hand over the files and judgement has been reserved in Mr Wright`s application for a judical review of the decision. UTV FRIDAY 28/06/02
Wright's father angry at inquiry refusal
The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright today attacked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission after its refusal to support calls for a public inquiry into his son's murder inside the Maze prison in 1997. David Wright said "serious questions" must now be asked about the NIHRC. Last year a representative of the Commission accompanied Mr Wright and his legal team into the Maze prison to see at first hand the murder scene.
However, despite the visit and the subsequent areas of concern which have come to light in the four years since Billy Wright's death, the Commission has said it cannot support the call for a public inquiry at this time.
Yesterday, Mr Wright accused members of the Commission of having been influenced by the media-created perception of what his son was alleged to be.
"Recently, Brice Dickson told a conference in Dublin Castle that he was sufficiently convinced that the security forces were involved in the murder of Pat Finucane. "He backed calls for an independent, judicial inquiry into the death saying the proposed investigation as agreed at Weston Park would not go far enough," he said.
"However, Professor Dickson, despite the quality of evidence he has been given and an admission by the NIO that public concern exists over my son's death, expects my family to accept that very same Weston Park inquiry he said was incapable of investigating the Finucane killing."
Mr Wright said that, through no wish of his family, his son's murder had taken on an emblematic status within the loyalist community
. Mr Wright said it would be difficult for that community to understand why the Human Rights Commission had backed calls for an inquiry into the Finucane murder but not that of Billy Wright. Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioner Brice Dickson disputed Mr Wright's claims that the Commission had been influenced by the media created perception of Billy Wright. Belfast Telegraph Tuesday, 29 January 2002
The public inquiry Into allegations of collusion in the murder of LVF terror chief Billy Wright will finally get under way in Belfast next month. Wright's father David yesterday received official confirmation the inquiry would open at The Europa Hotel on June 22. Mr Wright again called for the inquiry's terms of reference to be broadened to include events leading up to and after his son's killing. He said: "The inquiry cannot limit itself solely to events inside the Maze Prison on December 27,1997. "The political conspiracy to remove Billy Wright started long before then, and the conspiracy to suppress the truth about his killing is still ongoing. "The inquiry must examine the politics surrounding the murder of Billy Wright." The inquiry will be headed by retired Scottish Judge, Lord Randal MacLean. He will chair a three-member panel that will determine whether any wrongful act or omission, by or within the prison authorities, or other state agencies, facilitated the LVF leader's killers. Wright was gunned down by three INLA inmates as he waited in a prison van in front of H-Block 6 at the Maze. They had managed to cut through a fence and clamber over a roof unnoticed. A camera scanning the roof wasn't working at the time. Minutes before the attack, a prison guard had been ordered out of a watchtower overlooking the scene. The Government agreed to set up an investigation into the killing on the recommendation of the Cory Report. Judge Peter Cory found sufficient evidence of possible collusion to warrant a probe. Jane Winter, director of the London-based British/Irish Rights Watch, said: "It is vital that all the circumstances of Billy Wright's murder, including what led up to it and its aftermath, are subjected to rigorous scrutiny." Sunday Life 29th May 2005