Christopher 'Crip' McWilliams

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Christopher 'Crip' McWilliams (born 1964) is an Irish republican paramilitary and former Chief of Staff of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) from West Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was a former member of both the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) and the INLA group during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He was also responsible for the killing of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) leader, Billy Wright.[1][2]

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[edit] Background

McWilliams grew up in a republican area of West Belfast. His 16 year old brother Paul, a member of the Irish Republican Army Youth Section, was shot dead by British Army soldiers as he allegedly threw petrol bombs at their observation post during rioting in Ballymurphy.[3] The following week, the 13 year old McWilliams placed a death notice in the Irish News stating "He was shot in the back by a coward and died a hero".[4]

McWilliams has a reputation for being extremely fit and is relatively notorious and considered to be unpredictable and fanatical even amongst fellow republicans.[4] McWilliams was interviewed by reporter Martin O'Hagan after the murder of Billy Wright, incensing dissident loyalists, however shortly afterwards O'Hagan published another prominent article accusing McWilliams of having stalked a schoolgirl.[5]

[edit] Paramilitary activity

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 leading INLA figure Paul "Bonanza" McCann and a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) policeman died.[4]

In 1991, whilst a member of the IPLO, McWilliams was jailed for life for killing Colm Mahon, a Catholic bar manager because he asked McWilliams and his friends to leave Frames nightclub in Belfast on his birthday. McWilliams claimed that he did not carry out the killing and stated that he would name an alleged IPLO gunmen who actually shot Mahon.[6]

[edit] 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.[7]

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 were housed in the same prison block – H-Block 6 and despite precautions on 27 December 1997 an INLA team, including John Kenneway, John "Sonny" Glennon and led by McWilliams, 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.[8][9]

The three men then gave themselves up and 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 under the early release provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.[10]

[edit] 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 has campaigned for a public inquiry into his son's murder and has appealed for help to the Northern Ireland, British and Irish authorities for help in the matter.[11] 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.[12]

In June 2005 an enquiry in the death of Billy Wright was opened, chaired by Lord MacLean. Also sitting on the inquiry are academic professor Andrew Coyle from the University of London and the former Bishop of Hereford, the Reverend John Oliver.[13][14]

[edit] 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.[15][16]

Upon 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".[17] McWilliams was given clearance by US immigration to enter the country, even though his criminal convictions breached immigration laws.[6]

In April 2006, Willie Frazer of Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) claimed McWilliams had become re-involved with dissident republicans in south County Down and that this breached the terms of his early release and he should be returned to prison.[18][19]

[edit] Sources

  • Henry McDonald, INLA - Deadly Divisions

[edit] References

  1. ^ How the INLA decommisioned the LVF
  2. ^ Paul McCann: Fallen Comrade of the IRSM
  3. ^ Sutton Index of Deaths
  4. ^ a b c Unpopular loner loses appeal
  5. ^ Susan McKay. "Death of a reporter", The Guardian, 2001-11-17. 
  6. ^ a b Member of INLA squad that killed Wright set free
  7. ^ Wright killer in hiding from IRA
  8. ^ Death of a reporter
  9. ^ Transcript of BBC's Newsnight story on The Killing of Billy Wright
  10. ^ British Irish rights watch SUBMISSION TO THE BILLY WRIGHT INQUIRY
  11. ^ House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Jun 2003 (pt 32)
  12. ^ Government to launch inquiries into four Northern Ireland 'dirty killings'
  13. ^ Hearing in Wright murder inquiry
  14. ^ Official Billy Wright Inquiry Page
  15. ^ Billy Wright's INLA killers released
  16. ^ Glasgow bar refused licence had Provo poster signed by killer
  17. ^ Wright killers walk free
  18. ^ Is McWilliams flexing those muscles again?
  19. ^ Ireland: INLA Man Says "I Have No Regrests For Killing King Rat"