Wright unhappy over inquiry terms

David Wright is concerned about the inquiry into his son's murder

The father of LVF leader Billy Wright is meeting his lawyers to decide if he will cooperate with the public inquiry into his son's murder.

Wright, 37, was shot dead by three INLA prisoners in the Maze Prison on 27 December 1997.

A preliminary hearing was held on Wednesday, with public hearings starting next spring.

Inquiry chairman Lord MacLean said it will be held under the terms of the Inquiries Act, not the Prisons Act.

Concerns have been raised about the Inquiries Act and it is because of this that David Wright is considering whether to cooperate with the inquiry.

Earlier this year, retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, who investigated allegations of collusion in killings, criticised the act in relation to the Pat Finucane murder inquiry.

He said it "would make a meaningful inquiry impossible" and set "impossible terms for any international judge asked to chair the inquiry".

Billy Wright was murdered in the Maze Prison in December 1997

Mr Wright said he wanted to "take a bit of time" to consider "what's on offer".

Lord MacLean said it will be held under the act because he wanted to investigate things not just inside the Maze but outside as well, including allegations of security force collusion with republicans in Wright's death.

He said that for security reasons some evidence may be given in private.

However, in his opening remarks the retired judge from Scotland said that the inquiry would be fully independent.

"This inquiry will not only be a fully and open public inquiry, but will also be - and be seen to be - fully independent in its outlook and in its approach," Lord MacLean said.

Allegations

Mr Wright has campaigned for an inquiry into his son's death after allegations of collusion by the authorities in the murder.

Wright had just got into a prison van to be taken to the visitors' area of the jail, when the prisoners from the INLA - a republican paramilitary organisation - climbed over the roof of the H-block and into the prison yard.

Retired judge Lord MacLean is chairing the inquiry

One opened the van door, singled out the LVF leader and shot him several times.

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy announced the public inquiry in November 2004, following a report on the shooting by Mr Cory.

He was appointed by the British and Irish governments to investigate killings involving allegations of collusion by the security forces with paramilitaries on both sides of the Irish border.

Lord MacLean is joined on the inquiry by academic professor Andrew Coyle from the University of London and the former Bishop of Hereford, the Reverend John Oliver.