The Northern Ireland secretary, Mo Mowlam, has appealed for calm following the murder of the loyalist paramilitary, Billy Wright, at the Maze Prison.

Ms Mowlam said the attack represented a "very, very serious lapse of security", adding: "It is an attack on the peace process itself. It's a stark reminder, a horrible glimpse of the past."

Mo Mowlam "disgusted" by the murder

Calls for resignation

Ms Mowlam's call was echoed by Northern Ireland's political leaders, although she did face calls for her resignation.

Ken Maginnis MP, of the largely Protestant Ulster Unionist party, also called for the head of the Prison Service and the senior Northern Ireland Office civil servant in charge of security to step down.

He warned the entire prison system was being manipulated in a "drastically dangerous fashion" as part of confidence building measures aimed at preventing a breakdown of the IRA ceasefire.

Maginnis: Wants resignations

He said: "Now we see the absolute folly of Northern Ireland Office ineptitude in dealing with the most dangerous terrorists in western Europe.

"None of those responsible for prison security can escape the responsibility that unquestionably falls on their shoulders. I expect resignations will be tendered before midnight."

But Ms Mowlam said the murder was not a resignation matter: "Resignation at this stage would be an excessive step. It's an embarrassing situation to say the least. What I am more embarrassed about is what it potentially does to the peace process."

Ken Maginnis MP, Ulster Unionist Party: "Secretary of State should resign" (0' 52")

John Hume, leader of the mainly Catholic SDLP, said the shooting was clearly aimed at undermining peace talks which got underway in earnest in September when Sinn Fein, political wing of the IRA, was admitted for the first time.

But progress has been painfully slow and Unionists have been angered by what they see as a series of concessions to republicans.

Last week, protestant paramilitaries described their ceasefire, in place since 1994, as shaky, saying the peace process was in a dangerous phase.

David Ervine. Progressive Unionist party: "Bizarre and incalculable" (1' 53")

David Ervine of the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party said the killing was a "senseless and needless" death and called on loyalists not to respond.

Appealing for no knee-jerk reaction he said: "Let's not walk down the road that is laid out for us. Let's look and see what has been the intention of the INLA, let's see why at this time, specifically at this time."

The Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, appealed for calm and said the murder was a reminder that the causes of conflict remained.

The Prison Service has launched an investigation which will be part of an inquiry already on going into the escape of the IRA prisoner, Liam Averill.

He slipped out of the jail dressed as a woman after attending a party for inmates children shortly before Christmas.
 

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