Three imprisoned members of an IRA splinter group were charged Monday with killing a Protestant militant inside Northern Ireland's maximum-security prison.
Billy Wright, 37, the most brutal Protestant militant in the British-ruled province, was killed Saturday inside Maze Prison. Dubbed "King Rat," he was believed responsible for the killing of more than a dozen Catholics.The slaying has the potential to unravel the prevailing paramilitary cease-fires that have given Northern Ireland hope for peace.
A dozen armed police ringed the Lisburn Magistrates Court southwest of Belfast Monday as the charges were read to the three men, who were handcuffed together and to police guards. They spoke only to confirm their names.
Christopher McWilliams, 35, John Kennaway, 35, and John Glennon, 32, of the Irish National Liberation Army also were charged with possessing firearms and ammunition.
A police officer told the court that McWilliams said as he was about to be charged Monday: "Billy Wright was executed for one reason, and one reason only, and that was for directing and waging his campaign of terror against the Nationalist people from his prison cell."
Wright's bullet-riddled body has been returned to his family home ahead of his funeral Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam and Security Minister Adam Ingram met with prison and security officials Monday to discuss the investigation into Wright's killing.