11/06/2008

Legal Action Looms Over Wright Inquiry QC's Departure

A legal expert who has spent the last three years working on the contentious Billy Wright murder inquiry has been 'sacked'.

Derek Batchelor QC, the former senior counsel to the inquiry into the Maze murder of the LVF leader has now said that - contrary to a statement from the inquiry last week - that the inquiry dismissed him and that he did not resign.

He is now said to be considering legal action after accusing the inquiry of misrepresenting the circumstances of his leaving it.

Mr Batchelor's role at the inquiry was to lead questioning of all witnesses on behalf of the inquiry and was in effect the inquiry's main investigator.

A statement from Mr Batchelor yesterday said he "is now considering legal action".

(BMcC)

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