The father of Billy Wright, the notorious loyalist paramilitary leader who was shot dead inside the Maze Prison is meeting with his lawyers today to decide whether to co-operate with the public inquiry into his son's death.
Mr David Wright, who campaigned for years for the inquiry, said he would decide on whether to co-operate after the inquiry chairman, Lord Ranald MacLean, said he would ask the Northern secretary to convert the inquiry to one held under controversial new legislation - the Inquiries Act 2005
The Inquiries Act has sparked a major row, with opponents claiming it gives the British government greater opportunities to use the argument of national security to mount a cover-up and block evidence being given.
Amnesty International has called on senior British judicial figures not to work with the planned inquiry into the Pat Finucane murder which is planned to under the same legislation.
Lord Maclean, however, said the new act would give the inquiry into the death of Billy Wright a better and clearer framework in which to operate.
David Wright, who had initially voiced concerns about the new legislation, said he was uncertain how to react after listening to Lord MacLean.
“I will be talking with my legals and we will decide whether to co-operate or not. The broad brush strokes of what his Lordship said make me very happy.
“But I have to take into consideration that Judge Cory has said very clearly that the Inquiries Act should not be used.”
Speaking at a Belfast hotel where the opening hearing was held, he said Lord MacLean had made it clear the inquiry could be wider under the new act.
But Mr Wright said “This is a balancing act.”
He said he was concerned that he could “take part in the inquiry for two years and the government can then move and withhold the report”. There was as much in favour for holding the inquiry under the Inquiries Act as under the Prisons' Act under which it was originally set up, he said.
The inquiry is not expected to start public hearings until next spring.
The inquiry got the go-ahead late last year after a report by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory, appointed by the two governments to probe killings involving allegations of security force collusion during the troubles.
Wright had just been put into a prison van when three INLA inmates clambered over the roof of his H Block, opened the van door and shot him dead.
INLA prisoners were convicted of the murder, but there were allegations, voiced principally by Wright's father, that there was official collusion in his killing.
The Billy Wright inquiry is chaired by Lord Ranald MacLean of the Court of Session in Scotland. He will be supported by Prof Andrew Coyle, director of the International Centre for Prisons Studies at King's College, London, and the Right Rev John Oliver, retired diocesan bishop of Hereford.