Trimble `backs inquiry call'

Mr David Wright, father of murdered Portadown loyalist Mr Billy Wright, met the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, at Stormont…

Mr David Wright, father of murdered Portadown loyalist Mr Billy Wright, met the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, at Stormont yesterday to discuss "the growing concerns that still exist" about his son's murder in the Maze prison in December 1997.

Mr Wright described the meeting as positive and constructive and said Mr Trimble was now "fully conversant with all areas of concern regarding my son's political assassination" and that he endorsed his call for a public inquiry.

"Following my meeting with Mr Trimble I have now decided to take up Dr Mowlam's offer of a meeting with Minister of State Adam Ingram," he said. He hoped the meeting would take place shortly. "I will make full use of the meeting with Mr Ingram. He has a lot of answers to provide.

"I have always maintained my son's murder was state orchestrated and state sanctioned. Nothing has altered that opinion. In fact my investigations and findings since December 1997 have further compounded that belief."

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Mr Wright confirmed yesterday that all the North's Assembly parties, with the exception of the Progressive Unionist Party, had personally contacted him to offer support for his campaign.

"I find it very encouraging to know that my quest for justice bridges the sectarian divide here. After all, justice is the right of all human beings, not the prerogative of a select view."

However, he was "disappointed although not surprised" at the lack of response from the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. "It's over three months since this matter was brought to his attention. Unfortunately, it would appear Mr Ahern has no appetite for my concerns, important as they evidently now are to both communities here."