Billy Wright (loyalist)

Billy Wright
Billy Wright in 1996
Born	William Stephen Wright (1960-07-07)7 July 1960 Wolverhampton, England
Died	27 December 1997(1997-12-27) (aged 37) Maze Prison, Northern Ireland
Cause of death	Laceration of the aorta caused by a gunshot wound
Resting place	Seagoe Cemetery, Portadown, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Other names	"King Rat"

William Stephen "Billy" Wright (7 July 1960 – 27 December 1997) was a prominent Ulster loyalist during the ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. He joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in 1975 and became commander of its Mid-Ulster Brigade in the early 1990s, having taken over from Robin "the Jackal" Jackson. According to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Wright was involved in the sectarian killings of up to 20 Catholics, although he was never convicted for any. It has been alleged that Wright, like his predecessor, was an agent of the British security forces.

Wright attracted considerable media attention at the Drumcree standoff, where he supported the Orange Order's desire to march its traditional route through the Catholic/Irish nationalist area of Portadown. In 1994, the UVF and other paramilitary groups called ceasefires. However, in July 1996, Wright's unit broke the ceasefire and carried out a number of attacks, including a sectarian killing. For this, Wright and his Portadown unit of the Mid-Ulster Brigade were stood down by the UVF leadership. He was expelled from the UVF and threatened with execution if he did not leave Northern Ireland. Wright ignored the threats and, along with many of his followers, defiantly formed the breakaway Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). In March 1997 he was sent to the Maze Prison for having threatened the life of a woman. While imprisoned, Wright continued to direct the LVF's activities. In December that year, he was assassinated inside the prison by Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) prisoners. The LVF carried out a wave of sectarian attacks in retaliation.