UK government: Lengthy report finds no state collusion in Northern Ireland militant’s death

UK rules no state collusion in militant’s death

DUBLIN — Britain says a government-funded inquiry into the 1997 assassination of an anti-Catholic extremist in Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison has found no evidence of state collusion.

Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson told lawmakers on Tuesday a long-awaited report had exposed failings that contributed to the killing of Billy “King Rat” Wright, but had uncovered no government involvement.

The study focused on claims prison authorities turned a blind eye, or actively encouraged, the Irish National Liberation Army to kill Wright.

Wright, a notorious Protestant militant, was shot to death by three members of the Irish National Liberation Army at a prison outside Belfast.

Paterson acknowledged that security failings had facilitated Wright’s murder.