Inquiry postpones police hearings

Billy Wright was murdered in the Maze Prison in December 1997

The inquiry into the murder of loyalist leader Billy Wright has postponed hearing evidence from police.

It is understood the police failed to hand over information from a joint army and RUC Special Branch surveillance operation against the INLA in 1997.

It is believed the decision to kill Billy Wright was taken at one of the meetings monitored during that period.

Serving and former police officers were due to be questioned about this operation at the inquiry in November.

But the inquiry chairman Lord MacLean announced on Monday that their questioning has been postponed because of "unexpected and unavoidable delays".

Lord MacLean said the inquiry would continue its work and he hoped to hear the police evidence early next year.

LVF leader Billy Wright was shot dead by the INLA inside the Maze prison in December 1997.