The Billy Boy: The Life and Death of LVF Leader Billy Wright by Chris Anderson

Author:Chris Anderson [Anderson, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, General, Political Science, Terrorism
ISBN: 9781780573366
Google: eTLqbve1i3UC
Amazon: B005L193TM
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2011-09-01T23:00:00+00:00

10. Contradiction and Conspiracy

According to Billy Wright’s close associates the offer of a transfer to the Maze came directly from the Northern Ireland Office via its representative, Seamus McNeill. Prisoners who took part in the April 1997 discussions remain adamant that the transfer to H Block 6 was an NIO idea. That most certainly appears to be the case as Wright wrote in his petition requesting a transfer to the Maze that he had had his safety there assured. Clearly, Billy Wright knew the dangers of such a transfer and it was a decision he would not have taken without considerable thought and discussion with his fellow LVF prisoners. Indeed, those same LVF prisoners have confirmed that the NIO did in fact provide Billy Wright with specific assurances as to his physical safety within the Maze Prison. However, it is unclear just precisely what those assurances were.

David Wright has stated that during a visit to Maghaberry Prison his son told him he was happy to remain there if he could be afforded normal prison conditions and freedom to associate openly with his fellow prisoners. Such a remark indicates that Billy Wright himself did not feel unduly threatened by other loyalist prisoners or paramilitary groups within Maghaberry Prison. David Wright says the LVF prisoners themselves did not initiate the transfer to the Maze Prison.

However, during his meeting with Martin Mogg, Ken Crompton and Brian Barlow at the Maze Prison on 1 February 2000, David Wright was given a different version of the events surrounding his son’s transfer to the Maze. According to Martin Mogg, shortly after he had arrived at Maghaberry Prison in March 1997, Billy Wright began a campaign to be transferred to the Maze Prison. Mogg said that on 11 March 1997 the LVF had threatened violence unless Wright’s transfer was approved. Mogg said he spoke to Billy Wright who told him that, unless his transfer went ahead, it was his intention to go on a hunger strike. The hunger strike would be timed to culminate in or around the date of the annual Orange Order Drumcree Parade in Portadown in July.

Following this alleged threat, Mogg said he spoke with NIO security minister, Adam Ingram, and the decision was then taken to transfer Billy Wright to the Maze Prison. Mogg said Billy Wright had been advised by the NIO of the decision to transfer him to the Maze. Mogg said that at the same time Billy Wright was also advised that the LVF prisoners were to be accommodated on H Block 6 at the Maze in conjunction with members of the splinter republican group, the INLA. However, in November 2000 former Maghaberry Governor, Duncan McLaughlin, gave yet another version of the transfer procedure to David Wright.

The meeting between David Wright and Duncan McLaughlin took place at 17 University Avenue, Belfast, on the afternoon of 29 November 2000. The meeting, which took place at the request of Mr McLaughlin, came a matter of weeks after the publication of the British Irish Rights Watch report into the murder of Billy Wright.

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