"King Rat" murder inquiry opens in Belfast

DUBLIN (Reuters) - A public inquiry into the murder of Protestant paramilitary leader Billy "King Rat" Wright opened in Belfast on Wednesday, one of three probes into killings in which British security forces are alleged to have played a part.

Wright, 37, who headed the breakaway Loyalist Volunteer Force, was shot dead in 1997 by Irish republican guerrillas while serving a sentence in Northern Ireland's Maze Prison.

The inquiry got the go-ahead late last year after a report by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, appointed by the British and Irish governments to probe killings involving allegations of security force collusion during Northern Ireland's "Troubles".

Public inquiries into two other controversial killings, those of high-profile Catholic lawyer Rosemary Nelson who died in a car bombing in 1999, and Catholic man Robert Hamill, kicked to death by a Protestant crowd in 1997, began earlier this year.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050622/325/flqy2.html

guards and administration? What would give anyone that crazy idea? <sarcasm off>

The only bad part about Billy Wright's execution was the wave of sectarian killing it set off in '97-'98. I hope that will be a part of the investigation also. I seem to remember a lot of Catholic/Republican deaths at the hand of the UFF. Seems like it worked out pretty well for the Unionists, huh?


Just to remind everyone who the other two victims were:

Robert Hamill 25 years, Garvaghy Road, Portadown, County Armagh, beaten until he was unconscious by a loyalist mob in Portadown on 27 April 1997. He died in hospital on 8 May 1997. The beating took place in the early hours of the morning in full view of RUC members, who watched the attack from inside an RUC vehicle parked only yards away.

Mr Hamill had been out with several friends enjoying a social evening and after failing to get a taxi home decided to walk the short distance to the nationalist part of the town. One of those with the victim said they thought they would be safe because they could see an RUC vehicle in the street.

The RUC at first released a statement claiming the young man was injured during clashes between rival factions in the town. Later they admitted it was an attack on four people by a large crowd, but claimed they had not enough manpower to intervene.

The RUC later arrested and charge six men in connection with the killing but all were later released after the charges were withdrawn.



Rosemary Nelson 40 years, Lurgan, County Armagh, a human rights lawyer, she was killed when a booby-trap bomb exploded under her car as she drove from her home on 15 March 1999. She was married with three children. The Red Hand Defenders, a cover name for number of unionist/loyalist paramilitary groupings, claimed they carried out the killing.

Mrs Nelson was a highly efficient and respected lawyer who was involved in a number of high profile cases in the Lurgan area. Her ability to do her job resulted in her becoming a hate figure for the RUC Special Branch, who threatened her on a numerous occasions, and told some of her clients during interrogations that she was going to die.

After the threats and other incidents Mrs Nelson complained to the RUC. She also told a United Nations inquiry in 1998 of the death threats. The United Nations special investigator Param Cumaraswamy, speaking after her death, said he had feared for her life.

When the police/government have a hand in killings, there can be no trust in them; everyone is at risk.

When the foxes guard the henhouse, all the chickens are dinner.

when I was 6 YO. I haven't ever trusted the police/government.


I do wonder why all the concern about Billy Wright now? Even the UVF wanted him dead. It makes me wonder if they are going to say, "Yes, there was collusion and there was collusion in the murders of Nelson and Hamill, but, since both sides suffered it was equal. No side had an advantage." Some shit along those lines.

It's never equal; it always serves the state.

More wings, anyone?

From The Belfast Telegraph/Sunday Life:

Key Wright probe witness Mogg dies

A FORMER Prison Service chief who was to be a key witness at the inquiry into the jail killing of LVF boss Billy Wright has died.

Martin Mogg was governor of the Maze at the time the loyalist terrorist was shot dead by INLA inmates in December 1997.

His passing means that his testimony about events leading up to Wright's death won't be heard.

As a result, his knowledge of crucial decisions made by the Prison Service, which brought LVF and INLA inmates together in one H Block, can't be probed.

http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=652000

I'm on vacation (life's a beach) and this is my first check-in of news.

So he was cremated last month...did they open the inquiry before or after they knew he was unavailable?

I want all the collusion cases revealed, no matter which side seemed to have benefited.