Father loses file access bid

David Wright said he was happy the judge had highlighted his concerns

An application by the father of a murdered loyalist paramilitary leader to gain access to police files on the killing, has been dismissed at the High Court in Belfast.

Billy Wright, 37, leader of the splinter group the Loyalist Volunteer Force, was shot dead while serving a sentence in the Maze prison on 27 December 1997.

He was killed by three members of the republican paramilitary Irish National Liberation Army.

On Friday, David Wright, 70, said although he has been denied access to the police investigation file he was happy the judge had highlighted the shortcomings into all the circumstances surrounding his son's death.

"But I still ask what does the police file contain that I cannot see it?" he said.

"To me it shows that there is something being hidden."

Mr Justice Kerr dismissed Mr Wright's application for a judicial review of the decision by former Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan to refuse access to the file.

But I still ask what does the police file contain that I cannot see it? David Wright

The judge said Mr Wright had been concerned that there may have been collusion on the part of the authorities that facilitated his son's murder.

Mr Justice Kerr said he was satisfied that an investigation compatible with human rights legislation had not yet taken place.

Although Mr Wright was entitled to an effective investigation it did not follow automatically that he was entitled to access to the police investigation file.

Mr Justice Kerr said: "A retired judge from Canada, Mr Peter Cory, has been appointed to examine whether further inquiries into a number of deaths, including Mr Wright, are required.

"If it is concluded that such a further inquiry is required that will be the occasion on which to determine whether the contents of the police investigation should be revealed."