31/07/2002

Father of murdered LVF chief meets NI Secretary

The father of murdered LVF chief Billy Wright is meeting with the Secretary of State John Reid today to seek reassurances that all documentation relating to the killing will be made public.

The inquiry, led by Canadian judge Peter Cory, will consider allegations of collusion involving Gardai, RUC and British intelligence services relating to the murders of Billy Wright, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill, Pat Finucane, Lord Justice Gibson and his wife Cecily, and two senior RUC officers – Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan. Judge Cory will assess each case on whether an independent public inquiry is merited. He is expected to begin his deliberations within a couple of weeks.

David Wright believes the authorities conspired in the murder of his son and has long campaigned for an independent public inquiry. In October 2000, Mr Wright went to Downing Street to petition for a public inquiry and, following on from the Weston Park talks involving pro-agreement parties, Peter Cory was appointed in May this year.

Billy Wright, head of the mid-Ulster-based LVF at the time, was shot dead on December 27 1997 in the Maze Prison by convicted INLA gunman Christopher 'Crip' McWilliams and two accomplices as he was moved from his cell.

Earlier this month, Judge Cory met with members of the Finucane, Wright, Hamill and Nelson families in Dublin.

(GMcG)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 April 2004
Public inquiries follow on publishing of Cory Report
Full public inquiries are to be launched to investigate alleged security force collusion in three controversial murders in Northern Ireland. The separate inquiries to be held as soon as possible will investigate the killings of Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright.
30 May 2002
Durkan welcomes appointment of Judge Cory
SDLP Leader Mark Durkan has welcomed the appointment of Judge Cory to investigate allegations of collusion into the Finucane, Hamill and Nelson cases. Mr Durkan said: “The SDLP has long supported public inquiries into the Finucane, Hamill and Nelson cases. At Weston Park and elsewhere, we argued this case strongly.
07 March 2003
Murdered LVF chief's father fails in legal bid
David Wright has had a legal bid to gain access to police files into the murder of his son – LVF chief Billy Wright – turned down at the High Court in Belfast today.
22 January 2008
Killer Gun Supplied By Police Agent: Wright Inquiry
The public inquiry into the prison murder of LVF leader, Billy Wright has been receiving the wrong information from the police.
01 December 2003
Judge Cory recommends public inquiries into killings
Peter Cory, the Canadian judge who has been probing some of Northern Ireland's most controversial murders, has recommended that public inquiries be opened into the circumstances of four killings.