Ireland's OWN: INLA

Ireland's OWN: INLA

7 March 2003
Billy Wright's Father Loses Murder File Access Bid
—from The Derry Journal

The father of murdered Loyalist terror boss Billy Wright today failed in his bid to gain access to police investigation files on the controversial killing.

Even though the shooting inside Northern Ireland's maximum security Maze Prison in 1997 has been dogged by allegations of collusion, the High Court in Belfast ruled that David Wright did not have to see the papers at this stage.

Mr Justice Kerr said he should wait until a probe by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory into the circumstances surrounding the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader's death is completed.

He said: "If it's concluded that such a further inquiry is required in Mr Wright's case, that will be the occasion on which to determine whether the contents of the police investigation file should be revealed.

"At present it's impossible to conclude that the file must be released to the applicant in order that an effective investigation take place."

Wright was gunned down two days after Christmas 1997 by members of the rogue Republican paramilitary group the Irish National Liberation Army.

But the LVF chief's father has insisted that the killers needed outside help in smuggling in the gun and breaching security restrictions inside the jail to carry out the daring assassination.

More than two years ago, Mr Wright asked former Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan if he could view the dossier compiled by detectives assigned to the case, but his request was rejected.

In his reserve judgment on the judicial review, later mounted by the dead terrorist's father, the judge today accepted major questions still surrounded the case.

But, although Mr Wright is entitled to a proper investigation, it does not automatically mean that he should be given the police files.

Outside the court, Mr Wright claimed he had been vindicated, even though the decision went against him. He said: "What does the police file contain that I cannot see?

"It demonstrates that there's something being hidden."

The onus is now set to pass to Judge Cory as he investigates the Wright killing and five other murders, including the shooting of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, which are surrounded by suspicions of security force collusion on either side of the Irish border.

Mr Wright added: "The fact remains that I find myself vindicated despite this refusal.

"I have been assured over this past number of years that the investigation was thorough and nothing was hidden.

"If that is the case then why was this application dismissed?

"Even though Mr Justice Kerr summed up all the misdemeanours that are already in the public domain, he has left it to Judge Cory."

See Also: A Maze Tale: The Killing of King Rat and The True Story of the Maze Prison