22/05/2002

NIHRC call for public inquiry into Wright murder

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has called for an independent and international judicial inquiry into the murder of former Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright.

The Commission said it was calling for a public judicial inquiry into his murder to establish what actually happened on the day of the murder when three members of the republican paramilitary Irish National Liberation Army shot the former LVF leader in the Maze Prison in December 1997.

The Commission said that in its view under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights the State is not only required to protect life but also to investigate thoroughly and effectively cases where a person in the custody of the State has been deprived of life.

The Commission said in Billy Wright’s case, even though there have been convictions in relation to the murder, some relevant facts have still not been established. More specifically, the Commission said, how the gun used to kill Mr Wright was brought into the Maze Prison and how the killers were able to gain access to the area where Mr Wright was killed without being detected.

Chief Commissioner, Professor Brice Dickson, said: “Having met on two occasions with Mr David Wright (the father of Billy Wright) and his legal representatives, the Commission is now of the view that a full-scale public inquiry should be initiated so that all aspects of the murder of Mr Wright can be thoroughly and effectively investigated.

“The Commission is particularly motivated by the facts that Billy Wright was in the custody of the State when he was murdered and that very relevant information concerning the circumstances surrounding his murder has not yet been unearthed. We believe that Article 2 of the European Convention requires an independent inquiry in this case.”

The Commission said that it had adopted this view particularly in light of the Edwards versus UK (March 2002) case in the European Court of Human Rights which ruled that the UK State had failed to protect the life of a young man held in custody in England when he was killed by a cell-mate.

(AMcE)

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

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.
06 February 2008
PM Told Wright Had to be Be 'Dealt With': Robinson
There were further shocks at the ongoing Inquiry into the murder of LVF terror leader, Billy Wright today. Evidence given in court by NI Assembly Finance Minister Peter Robinson was that the victim, Billy Wright, had said the late PUP leader David Ervine told Tony Blair - then Prime Minister - that he (Wright) had to be "dealt with".
30 October 2006
Inquiry into Billy Wright murder commences
The public inquiry into the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright, who was gunned down by three INLA inmates at the Maze prison on December 27 1997, has today commenced in Belfast.
14 September 2010
Wright Murder Report Says 'No Collusion'
Almost 13 years after the controversial killing, findings from the public inquiry into the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright inside the Maze prison have been released this afternoon. The report into the murder of former leading loyalist Billy Wright has said there was no collusion between the authorities and the INLA gunmen.
03 March 2008
MI5 Warned Police Over Murder Plot
An MI5 agent has revealed how he warned police about the plot to kill LVF leader, Billy Wright. Speaking at an inquiry into the killing, the agent said he had told police of the plan eight months before Wright was shot by the INLA in the Maze prison in 1997.