22/06/2005

Public inquiry to begin into loyalist murder

A public inquiry into the murder of loyalist Billy Wright is due to get under way on Wednesday.

The former LVF leader was shot dead while serving a prison sentence in the Maze on 27 December 1997.

The inquiry into the 37-year-old’s death was announced last November by former Secretary of State Paul Murphy. Two other planned enquiries were also announced into the death's of Robert Hamill and Rosemary Nelson.

The inquiry will be chaired by Lord (Ranald) MacLean of the Court of Session in Scotland. He will be supported in this role by Professor Andrew Coyle (Director of the International Centre for Prisons Studies at King’s College, London) and the Right Reverend John Oliver (retired diocesan Bishop of Hereford).

Wright, dubbed ‘King Rat’, had just got into a prison van to be taken to the visitors' area of the jail, when three INLA prisoners climbed over the roof of the H-block and into the prison yard.

One opened the van door, singled out the LVF leader and shot him several times.

(MB)

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