Christopher McWilliams

Christopher "Crip" McWilliams (c. 15 December 1963 – 28 June 2008) was a member of both the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) and the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. He was convicted of the murder of the LVF leader Billy Wright.

Background

McWilliams was born around 15 December 1963 and grew up in staunchly republican West Belfast. His 16 year old brother Paul, a member of the Irish Republican Army Youth Section (Na Fianna), was shot dead by British Army soldiers in 1977 as he allegedly threw petrol bombs at their observation post during rioting in Ballymurphy. The following week McWilliams placed a death notice in the Irish News regarding his brother's death: "He was shot in the back by a coward and died a hero". McWilliams had a reputation for extreme physical fitness. He was relatively notorious and considered to be unpredictable and fanatical even among fellow republicans. McWilliams was interviewed by reporter Martin O'Hagan after the murder of Billy Wright, incensing dissident loyalists. Shortly afterwards O'Hagan published another article accusing McWilliams of having stalked a schoolgirl.

Paramilitary activities/criminal activities

In 1984, McWilliams was jailed for 14 years for his part in a shoot-out in a flat in the Lenadoon area of West Belfast in which a leading INLA figure, Paul McCann, and a RUC policeman died, but did not serve the full sentence. Seven years later, while still a member of the IPLO, McWilliams was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Colm Mahon, a bar manager, on 15 December 1991, when Mahon asked McWilliams and his friends to leave the Frames Snooker Hall on Little Donegall Street, Belfast, on McWilliams' birthday. "Colm Mahon was murdered just because he threw McWilliams out of a bar and everyone in the INLA was disgusted with his actions. When he was outside he wasn't a major operator and instead of killing innocent Catholics over trivial things he should have used his weapon on the security forces or the loyalists.

McWilliams later claimed that he did not carry out the killing and stated that he would name an alleged IPLO gunmen who actually shot Mahon. 

The shooting of Billy Wright

There were previous security breaches in connection with INLA prisoners in nearby Maghaberry prison, and McWilliams was among a number of INLA prisoners transferred from Maghaberry to the Maze.

In 1997, McWilliams shot and killed LVF leader Billy Wright, known as "King Rat". Early in 1997 INLA inmates within the Maze prison had informed Prison Officers that "they intend, given a chance, to take out the LVF". The Prison Officers Association said precautions had been put in place to ensure inmates from the two organisations did not come into contact with each other as the factions were not participating in ceasefires at the time, and were violently opposed to one another. Their prisoners, however, were housed in the same prison block – H-Block 6 and, despite any precautions that may have been taken, on 27 December 1997 an INLA team, led by McWilliams and including John Kenneway and John Glennon, scaled the walls between the two factions and ambushed Wright in a courtyard as he was about to be brought for a visit from his girlfriend. He was shot three times and died at the scene. The three men then surrendered to a prison chaplain. On 20 October 1998 they were convicted of murder and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life. They were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and 20 years for the firearms offence, but served only two years in jail due to the early release provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Cory Collusion Inquiry

The nature of Wright's killing, within a high security prison, has led to speculation that the authorities colluded with the INLA to have him killed as he was a danger to the emerging Northern Ireland peace process. Wright's father campaigned for a public inquiry into his son's murder and appealed for help to the Northern Ireland, British and Irish authorities for help in the matter. The murder was investigated by the Cory Collusion Inquiry and it was recommended that the UK Government launch an inquiry into the circumstances of Wright's death.

In June 2005 an inquiry into Wright's murder began, chaired by Lord MacLean. Also sitting on the inquiry were academician Andrew Coyle of the University of London and the former Bishop of Hereford, the Right Reverend John Oliver.

After his release

McWilliams had served only two years for the murder of Wright and was released from Magilligan prison on 20 October 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Upon his release McWilliams offered to return to the Maze to stage a reconstruction of the murder but refused to go into the details of the attack. He also denied knowing that security cameras were not working and that a watch tower was unmanned that day. He also stated that the "decision was taken to eliminate Billy Wright solely because he was the man who had opted to direct a ruthless campaign of slaughter of innocent Catholics from inside Long Kesh". McWilliams was rumoured to have been given clearance by US authorities to enter the USA, despite his background.

In April 2006, Willie Frazer of Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) claimed McWilliams had become re-involved with dissident republicans in South Down and that this breached the terms of his early release and he should be returned to prison.

Death

McWilliams died on the morning of 28 June 2008 in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry from cancer, aged 44.

Sources

• McDonald, Henry and Holland, Jack: INLA - Deadly Divisions; Torc Books/Poolbeg Press (21 April, 1994); ISBN-10: 189814205X / ISBN-13: 978-1898142058