Sinn Féin Assembly member John O’Dowd said people would be much more interested in a proper investigation into Billy Wright’s activities when alive, including his relationship with senior unionist politicians like Willie McCrea, rather than the circumstances surrounding his death.
“In all of the coverage today it is important not to forget that Wright was a unionist paramilitary leader involved in the murder of up to 30 innocent Catholics,” he said.
“It is our firm view that Wright and the Mid-Ulster UVF, like their colleagues in Mount Vernon were controlled, directed and manipulated by the British State. This report does not examine this aspect of Wright’s life."
Mr O’Dowd said the inquiry had come about through lobbying by the UUP and DUP and that it was “limited” in its focus to the circumstances surrounding Billy Wright’s death.
“It will come as no surprise that the report places much of the blame at the feet of the prison administration.”
“We would strongly support the recommendation contained in the report for a complete overhaul of the administration of the prison system in the North," he added.