The assassination of Loyalism's King Rat

[Jan Klimkowski]

Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) leader, Billy Wright, commonly known as "King Rat", was assassinated inside a high security prison by Republican inmates on December 27, 1997.

The five-year, £30 million, official inquiry into Wright's death found that there was no colllusion between the state and the assassins.

Here's a standard MSM piece about that inquiry's findings.

"No collusion" is also the official position of those assassins, who were members of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).

Here is the official statement by the INLA about that assassination:

THE INSIDE STORY: THE INLA EXECUTION OF "KING RAT"


Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit

source - IRSP <irsp@netwizards.net>

From The Starry Plough
Newspaper of the Irish Republican Socialist Party
March-April 1999


THE INSIDE STORY: THE INLA EXECUTION OF "KING RAT"
from the INLA A.S.U., H-Blocks, Long Kesh

The following statement provides a detailed account of the sequence of
events leading to and following the Irish National Liberation Army
operation to eliminate Billy Wright, the then leader of the Loyalist
Volunteer Force, who was executed by an INLA Active Service Unit in the
environs of H Block 6 in Long Kesh on the morning of 27th December 1997.

This account has been compiled in consultation with the three INLA
volunteers involved in the execution of Wright and the INLA leadership
outside Long Kesh. Prior to detailing the exact sequence of events,
however, we wish to provide a detailed account of events both inside H
Block 6 and outside within the wider nationalist community in the months
leading up to the actual operation to eliminate Wright. In reading this
account the following points should be noted:

1. The primary purpose of this article is to counteract in their entirety
unfounded allegations which have emanated in relation to this operation
from biased and/or partisan sources ever since the 27th December 1997. The
nature of such unfounded allegations have tended to be in the main to
suggest some form of collusion was arrived at to eliminate the LVF leader
between the INLA and other elements. These allegations have tended to be
promoted by loyalist groupings, individuals and/or ill-informed elements
within the wider republican/nationalist community. With specific regard to
ludicrous suggestions alleging collusion with prison authorities, we wish
to provide a detailed account of the exact dealings involving republican
socialist wing POW representatives and prison authorities in Long Kesh
during the months prior to the operation of the 27th December 1997. From
here on republican socialist POW representatives are referred to as "INLA
Camp Staff".

2. It should be noted that as a matter of regulation that all dealings
involving the INLA Camp Staff in Long Kesh and prison authorities are
recorded contemporaneously by INLA internal security within Long Kesh.
Regulations in accordance with INLA internal security requirements dictate
that any dealings in this respect must involve consultation between at
least two representatives from the INLA Camp Staff in Long Kesh. It should
also be noted in advance of reading these recollections however that the
sole purpose of any such consultations involving INLA Camp Staff and the
prison authorities are solely to address prison living conditions for INLA
personnel within Long Kesh.

3. In light of the unfounded allegations outlined above, the INLA
leadership, in conjunction with INLA internal security in Long Kesh, have
authorised the release of the written detailed records of all meetings
involving the INLA Camp Staff and the prison authorities in Long Kesh
immediately prior and following the establishment of an LVF presence in
Long Kesh, concluding with the events surrounding the operation to
eliminate the LVF leader on the 27th December 1997.

4. A detailed account of all the workings of the actual operation to
eliminate Billy Wright will also be provided.

--- --- --- --- --- ---

HOW THE IRISH NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY DECOMMISSIONED THE LVF

What follows is a specific account of the Irish National Liberation Army
operation to execute Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Wright on the morning
of 27th of December 1997.

Before detailing the actual specifics of the operation it is necessary to
highlight the work undertaken by INLA intelligence.

The plan was to provide the prison officers on duty in H Block 6 the
opportunity to spot the INLA Active Service Unit as soon as the operation
got underway.

Intelligence had shown that the ASU would have been likely to have been
spotted as they were attempting to pass through the hole in the fence in A
wing exercise yard, as this movement would have served immediately to
attract the attention of the prison officer occupying the observation post
overlooking the immediate area.

In response to seeing the INLA ASU breaching the fence the prison officer
would have automatically activated the alarm. Once the alarm had been
activated normal procedure would have been to stop all movement in the
block, all gates would have been locked down automatically and therefore
movement could not recommence until the alarm alert had been investigated
by the prison authorities.

Had this been the case on the morning of 27th December 1997, the van
containing Billy Wright would have had to remain immobile inside the Block
forecourt until the alarm had been cleared.

This delay would have presented the ASU with added time to successfully
complete the operation. As it happened unknown to the INLA ASU the
observation post was unoccupied that morning, but the split second timing
of the operation insured that the ASU did not require the extra time.

Nothing would have prevented the INLA ASU completing their mission once
they had breached the fence in A wing yard whether an alert had been raised
or not was irrelevant as by that time the target would have already been
sitting in the visiting bus in the forecourt as the operation began.

The operation that removed the threat of British loyalism's most effective
sectarian killer took less than 90 seconds from start to finish.

THE OPERATION

The day began with all three volunteers assigned to the ASU being put on
standby from 8.00am that morning.

The entire ASU were by this stage fully familiar with their assigned roles
in the operation. Following the morning headcount by block prison officers,
all three volunteers acted as normal, taking breakfast in the canteen
quarters of A Wing.

Whilst there, a table was placed under the window of the canteen which
overlooked the forecourt of H Block 6 with the entrance being clearly in
view. That morning two prison visit vans were clearly in view from this
position.

Following breakfast, Vol. Christopher 'Crip' McWilliams and Vol. John
'Sonny' Glennon proceeded to arm themselves with weapons from the INLA arms
dump.

The two weapons, one .38 calibre Makarov PA63 semi automatic pistol and one
modified .22 Derringer pistol (one barrel of the Derringer had been found
to be non-operational during a test fire.)

The two pistols were fully loaded.

On having inspected the weapons both volunteers returned with them
concealed down their waist bands to the A wing canteen to meet with
volunteer John Kennaway. The three volunteers staged one final briefing,
checking signals, arrangements and so forth.

At approximately 9.00am Vol. Glennon moved into position purporting to be
painting a wall mural in the sterile area of A and B wing. His position
provided him with a clear line of sight across both the circle and the
entrance of the LVF wings. In the event Billy Wright was sighted making his
way to attend a visit, a pre-arranged code was to be issued to alert Vol.
McWilliams and Vol. Kennaway. The code to be issued was as follows;

If Billy Wright passed into the circle with one other LVF prisoner then
Vol. Glennon was to shout down the INLA wings from his position: "Pass me
the paints out of cell two". Vol. McWilliams and Kennaway would have known
from this signal that Wright was with one other LVF prisoner entering the
block circle on their way to visits. In the event of the code being "Pass
me the paints from cell three," then this would have denoted three LVF
prisoners entering the Block circle on their way to visits.

The reason for the issuance of codes in this manner was to equip the ASU
with up-to-the-minute intelligence as to the number of LVF prisoners they
were likely to confront and subdue in order to execute the operation
successfully.

At approximately 9.40am, Volunteer Glennon, while panting the mural, armed
with the concealed Derringer pistol, overheard the intercom buzzing - this
placed him on alert. He proceeded to watch as a prison officer approached
the grills leading to the LVF wings to speak to a LVF prisoner. A prisoner
was then heard to shout down the LVF wings "C'mon Billy, that's us for a
visit." On hearing this, Vol. Glennon continued as normal painting the wall
mural. Whilst doing so he heard the buzzers indicating the opening of the
LVF grilles. As he watched the grilles open, Vol. Glennon spotted Billy
Wright and another LVF prisoner entering the block circle from the LVF wing.

Volunteer Glennon proceeded to shout the code signal down the INLA wings,
"pass me the paints out of cell two." Immediately on doing this Vol.
Glennon left the wall mural to enter the canteen on A Wing. Once there he
proceeded to stand on the table situated beneath the window overlooking the
block forecourt.

Volunteers McWilliams and Kennaway on hearing the first signal moved into
position at the turnstile of A wing exercise yard awaiting a second signal
from Volunteer Glennon. This second pre-arranged was not to be given until
Volunteer Glennon was sure that Billy Wright had entered the prison van in
the forecourt of H block 6.

GO...GO...GO....

Immediately after seeing Wright enter the prison van in the forecourt,
Volunteer Glennon shouted the second pre-arranged signal which consisted of
the words "Go...Go...Go...!" Upon hearing this, Volunteers McWilliams and
Kennaway immediately moved at speed through the turnstile on A Wing
followed, quickly by Volunteer Glennon.

Volunteer Kennaway proceeded to kick clear the pre-cut section of the A
Wing fence opening the hole. Volunteer McWilliams then ran through the hole
closely followed by Volunteers Kennaway and Glennon.

--- --- --- --- --- ---

THE RAT TRAP CLOSES

Once clear of the hole in the fence Volunteer Kennaway stood against the
wall outside cell 26 for the purpose of hoisting Volunteers McWilliams and
Glennon on to the roof of H Block 6. Having completed the assistance
successfully, Volunteer Kennaway proceeded to haul himself on to the roof
as well. As he was doing so, Volunteers McWilliams and Glennon proceeded to
jump off the roof of the block into the forecourt.

The Prison van containing Billy Wright was by this stage edging its way
forward toward the exit gates of the
forecourt which had already been opened by a number of prison officers.
Volunteer McWilliams, armed with the concealed semi-automatic pistol,
produced the weapon on entering the area. He proceeded with speed to run in
front of the prison van containing Wright bring the van to an abrupt halt.
At this stage it appeared that prison officers, on spotting Volunteer
McWilliams was armed, attempted to close the forecourt gates.

Within seconds, Volunteer Glennon, armed with the Derringer pistol, had
joined the two other volunteers.

Volunteers McWilliams and Glennon made their way to the sliding door of the
prison van, the sliding door was the means in which the prisoners gained
access, and this door could only be opened from the outside. As this move
was taking place, Volunteer Kennaway remained with the driver of the van to
prevent him from driving off.

"ARMED INLA VOLUNTEERS"

The sliding side door was pulled open by Volunteers Glennon and McWilliams.
Volunteer McWilliams then shouted in the rear of the van: "Armed INLA
Volunteers".

He moved quickly to subdue the prison officer sitting adjacent the sliding
door shouting at him to "Get Down." The prison officer reacted by dashing
into the corner of the van in a state of shock. The two LVF prisoners
meanwhile made a feeble attempt to scramble from the van via the open door.
This attempt was quickly thwarted.

Volunteer McWilliams then fired a single shot from the PA63 semi-automatic
in the direction of Billy Wright. The effect of this shot was that the
second LVF prisoner ran to the back of the van cowering in the corner,
holding both arms above his head in order to protect himself.

Wright meanwhile made another feeble attempt to escape the van via the side
door. The attempt took the form of him
kicking out at Volunteer McWilliams, who immediately stepped back firing
three aimed shots into the target. Wright then staggered to the back of the
van. He once more made a disoriented move in the direction of the side
door. Volunteer McWilliams had by then hopped into the van, stepping aside
while Volunteer Glennon provided covering fire using the .22 Derringer
pistol.

After firing at Wright, Volunteer Glennon moved back to the door of the van
holding the Prison officer and the other LVF prisoner at bay.

Volunteer Kennaway was by this stage continuing to subdue the van driver.

Volunteer McWilliams proceeded then to fire off the remaining three rounds
into Billy Wright, killing him instantly. It is important to stress that
the INLA active service unit were working under specific instructions
issued to them by the Irish National Liberation Army leadership, clear
instructions which tasked the ASU with the sole purpose of eliminating the
LVF leader and not any other prisoner or prison officer, unless the actions
of the latter two served to endanger the lives of the ASU Volunteers.

Having eliminated Wright, the entire ASU withdrew from the vicinity of the
van, returning to A Wing via the same route used to access the forecourt.

The entire operation from start to finish lasted no more than one and a
half minutes.

CONCLUSION

On arrival in A Wing, negotiations ensued between the ASU volunteers and
prison staff, assisted by the prison chaplain. The ASU proceeded to hand
over all equipment and materials used in the operation. The three
volunteers were then arrested at the prison reception.

Upon being charged, Volunteer McWilliams issued a short statement which had
been agreed beforehand with the leadership of the INLA if and when the
operation against Wright proved successful. This brief statement read:

"Billy Wright was executed for one reason and on reason only, and that was
for directing and waging his campaign of terror against the nationalist
people from his prison cell in Long Kesh"

--- --- --- --- --- ---

THE EXECUTION OF BILLY WRIGHT: CONCLUDING STATEMENT

This statement in its entirety details all aspects which arose as a
consequence of the British State authorities recognising the existence of
the quasi-fundamentalist Loyalist Volunteer Force as a separate entity from
the mainstream Loyalist paramilitaries.

The truth of the existence of the LVF as an individual organisation without
direction from either British intelligence or mainstream loyalism has yet
to be established - only history will show the truth of this assertion.

The arrival of LVF prisoners into H Block 6 after they had been forced off
the mainstream loyalist blocks impacted on several matters which were then
either subject, or shortly to become the subject of concern to the
leadership of the Irish National Liberation Army and the INLA camp staff
within Long Kesh itself.

1. Immediately prior to the arrival of LVF prisoners into H block 6 during
April 1997, INLA volunteers housed on C and D wings of this block were
close to finalising plans to effect the escape from Long Kesh of selected
INLA personnel.

Advanced plans in this regard had to be aborted as a direct consequence of
the LVF arriving onto the Block. However although plans were aborted, a
decision was taken by Long Kesh INLA internal security to restage the
escape attempt at the earliest convenient opportunity, escapes from British
prisons being in accordance with the duty of all republican POW's.

2. The formation of the Loyalist Volunteer Force as ostensibly a splinter
from the Ulster Volunteer Force during the Drumcree crisis of 1996 served
to add a more extreme fundamentalist sectarian dimension to the activities
of the loyalist death squads. The LVF first came to public attention with
the murder of MichaeI McGoldrick, a Catholic taxi
driver outside Lurgan on the 8th of July 1996. This killing was quickly
followed by the brutal slaughter of Catholic youth James Morgan from
outside Castlewellan and the dumping of his remains in a pit full of
decomposing animal carcasses in Clough.

There followed a series of internal squabbles between the LVF, UFF and UVF.
This series of squabbles served to disrupt the workings of the LVF for the
remainder of 1996, although loyalist murders of innocent Catholics were to
continue on a 'No Claim, No Blame' basis.

During this campaign the parties involved in the Stormont talks ignored the
loyalist campaign insisting that peace existed.

It did exist, for some, but not for the nationalist working class
communities of the six-counties.

In May 1997 the LVF had re-emerged, claiming responsibility for the murder
of 52-year-old GAA official Sean Browne in Randalstown, County Antrim.

Within a matter of weeks, on the 15th of July, the LVF had struck again,
brutally murdering 18-year-old Catholic girl Bernadette Martin as she lay
sleeping in her boyfriend's home in Aghalee, County Antrim.

What followed was a series of sectarian murders of Catholics on the "No
Claim, No Blame" basis, culminating with the murder of 35-year-old GAA
official Gerry Devlin in the grounds of St. Enda's GAA club in Glengormely.

The net effect of this sectarian campaign with a steady stream of prominent
loyalists from the UVF and UFF "defecting" to the LVF with a view to
forming an alliance that would continue to target the nationalist working
class. This alliance finally forced the INLA to break its defence and
retaliation mode that it had been observing since March 1996.

It was the view of the INLA that the LVF grouping was posing a serious
threat to the nationalist community.

This statement, which has been released by the leadership of the Irish
National Liberation Army, inclusive of accounts of the debriefings of the
INLA active service unit involved in the operation to eliminate the LVF
leader, amounts to all that has to be said as far as we are concerned on
this matter.

Should the demise of Billy Wright in any way have served to help other
groups and/or state authorities, this we regard as merely coincidental and
not a matter for our concern.

Those who have alleged some form of collusion do so to forward their own
narrow political agenda and ignore the facts and the reality for the
nationalist working class community.

Those who allege that it was an attack on the peace process are suffering
from the same political tunnel vision that claim that the Stormont talks
and the Good Friday Agreement are going to bring peace.

The INLA execution of the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright, a
recognised sectarian killer who often worked on the orders of MI5, far from
being an attack on the peace process was a positive blow for peace in
Ireland.