Wright's father seeks answers to INLA killing

Northern Ireland's chief constable has resisted new demands for crucial intelligence on the murder of Billy Wright, the loyalist…

Northern Ireland's chief constable has resisted new demands for crucial intelligence on the murder of Billy Wright, the loyalist paramilitary's father claimed today.

Mr David Wright emerged from a meeting with Mr Hugh Orde dismayed at receiving no answers to his questions into the controversial killing.

His son, leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force, was gunned down inside the notorious Maze Prison by republicans two days after Christmas 1997.

The shooting, plagued by allegations of collusion between jail staff and the INLA hitmen, is to be the subject of a public inquiry following a recommendation by retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory.

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During talks at police headquarters in Belfast, Mr Wright pressed Mr Orde about threats believed to have been passed to RUC Special Branch months before the murder.

The counter-terrorism unit was warned the INLA planned to assassinate the LVF chief, Mr Wright insists.

"I wanted to know from the Chief Constable what he was going to do about these issues raised by Cory," he said. "All he would say was that he would comply with the tribunal. He wouldn't commit on any issues at all. He was stonewalling me."

The Wright murder was one of four examined by Judge Cory and found to have enough evidence of state collusion to warrant full public hearings.