WRIGHT DAD WINS BAN ON NIO BRASS AT PROBE

THE father of murdered LVF boss Billy Wright has succeeded in having all NIO officials excluded from the upcoming independent investigation into his son's murder by the INLA at the Maze prison in December 1997.

The move follows a recent heated meeting between David Wright and Secretary of State Dr John Reid.

During the course of the meeting at Castle Buildings, the loyalist leader's father told Dr Reid he would not accept any NIO involvement in the investigation.

Mr Wright told Dr Reid that any participation by the NIO raised serious questions about the overall independence of the investigation.

The Wright family's concerns were brought to the attention of the head of the investigation, retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory, by human rights group British Irish Rights Watch.

Judge Cory has now made it clear he will not be accepting the NIO offer to second members of staff to provide administrative support to the collusion investigation.

Judge Cory said it was important that there was no suggestion that his investigations were not independent of the NIO.

He said his decision to decline the offer of staff was no reflection on the individuals concerned.

The judge said both the British and Irish governments had acknowledged that the independence of his investigations was paramount.

However, it has also emerged that at least two other members of the investigation team have been seconded from the Lord Chancellor's Department in London.

Yesterday, David Wright called for the immediate removal of the Lord Chancellor's staff, saying their presence was totally and utterly unacceptable.

"I have made it patently clear I will not accept any British Government officials taking part in the Cory investigations. If Judge Cory needs administrative staff then he should recruit them from his native Canada," Mr Wright said.

"Judge Cory maintains the Lord Chancellor's staff have been security vetted. That may be the case but that vetting has been carried out by the British Intelligence Services. As such it is unacceptable to my family.

"Judge Cory has made it clear he does not want NIO people on his team. The same directive must also be applied to the Lord Chancellor's staff. If they remain in place then the collusion investigation looses its independence."

Mr Wright said he would be seeking an immediate meeting with Judge Cory to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the investigation will have access to all the material collected by the Steven's inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

The Finucane murder will be the first case to be examined by Judge Cory. It is expected that an examination of the Billy Wright murder will not get under way until January, 2003.

Judge Cory will be supported by Canadian lawyers James O'Reilly and Renee Pomerance.

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