Dublin officials were appalled that Northern Ireland prison authorities had granted loyalist terror boss Billy Wright his own wing at the Maze prison for his breakaway Loyalist Volunteer Front (LVF).
Secret documents released as part of the State Papers by the National Archive revealed Irish authorities were worried there was a deliberate attempt in Northern Ireland to enhance the profile of Wright, who was opposed both to peace talks with republicans and the Irish Government as well as the ceasefire by loyalist paramilitary groups.
Confidential papers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Taoiseach underlined the concerns in Dublin over the profile being given to Wright and the LVF.
Wright emerged in the early 1990s as one of the most feared loyalist paramilitary leaders. He had been active in the mid-Ulster unit of the UVF.
However, he split from the UVF and formed the LVF in protest at its participation in the loyalist ceasefire.
The LVF became notorious for its violence and sectarianism, with the group believed responsible for the murder of dozens of Catholics.
One Department of Foreign Affairs file revealed Irish officials were appalled when the LVF was granted the right to have its own wing at the Maze prison — a concession reserved for established paramilitary groups.
The 1997 document noted that the concession would have consequences.
“[It would inevitably] enhance Wright’s self-confidence and self-importance… provide a magnet for a variety of dissidents amongst loyalist prisoners and… weaken the authority of the relatively moderate and peace-oriented combined loyalist military command leadership within the Maze”.
Prison workers and mediation officials noted that Wright attracted loyalty from his followers through his personal courage and charisma rather than through fear.
Mediation Network official Brendan McAllister visited Wright in the Maze in June/July 1997.
Later, he described Wright as very different to the media caricatures of the LVF leader.
Mr McAllister said Wright was well spoken, clearly intelligent, determined and charismatic.
He noted that it was clear there was a sort of “personal magnetism” about the LVF leader.
The Mediation Network official said the LVF had to be taken very seriously.
“[They] combined a potent mix — magnetism and leadership, a sense of purpose, idealism and probity, a cadre of disciplined and motivated followers with a proven capacity for sectarian violence and a philosophy which stridently mixes notions of territory, identity and religious fundamentalism,” he said.
“He and his followers see themselves as the custodians of a unionist integrity which has been lost sight of by the mainstream.”
Northern Ireland and British officials justified the treatment of Wright by insisting that his life was in danger.
A number of republican groups had vowed to target Wright because of the sectarian attacks he organised.
On December 27, 1997, Wright was killed by INLA prisoners who managed to escape from their wing, climb over a roof and into a compound where Wright was about to be taken out of the Maze in a prison van for a supervised visit with his girlfriend.
The INLA had managed to smuggle a Hungarian FEG pistol and .22 handgun into the Maze and they were used to assassinate Wright.
All three INLA members were subsequently convicted of the killing but were let out of prison within two years because of the early release provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.
The killing of Wright came as clashes between prison officials and LVF inmates erupted earlier that year at the Maze.
The prisoners had burnt part of their wing and were later held in solitary confinement and subjected to strict conditions.
LVF inmates were then supervised by prison officers in almost full riot gear, with no speaking allowed by prison officers to protect their identities. Instead, they used hand signals to communicate.
Wright was said to be livid over their treatment.
The nature of Wright’s killing in a high-security prison led to speculation that the INLA had received assistance from the authorities in targeting the LVF leader.
Hardline loyalists claimed he was killed because he was a threat to the peace process.
The INLA later rejected these suggestions and insisted Wright was only targeted because of his murderous campaign against the nationalist population in Northern Ireland.
Wright had told friends and LVF associates that he feared he was going to be killed.