The father of murdered LVF leader Billy Wright has reacted angrily to the Northern Secretary refusal to instigate a public inquiry into the circumstances of his son's murder in the Maze prison in December 1997.
Mr David Wright said he had received a letter from Minister of State Mr Adam Ingram, which said he and Dr Mowlam did not believe "that a further public investigation is warranted". The Secretary of State also felt "that a meeting to discuss the case would serve little purpose at this time".
"I am totally appalled by Dr Mowlam's attitude," Mr Wright said. "I find her attitude both contemptuous and offensive. It is completely opposite to that shown to the family of Rosemary Nelson by the British and Irish governments.
"Dr Mowlam's dismissive attitude typifies her approach to my section of the community regarding the application of justice."
Mr Wright wrote to Dr Mowlam last month, requesting a meeting to discuss what he termed "serious unanswered questions regarding the murder of my son".
Mr Wright maintains it was "state-arranged, state-sponsored and state-sanctioned, in collusion with those in prison management".
"The response of Mo Mowlam quite clearly shows that she is prepared to ignore the verdict of the inquest jury," Mr Wright said yesterday. "In its findings, the jury clearly stated that persons, other than the three men convicted of my son's murder, were involved in his death and that they remain undetected. By refusing to pursue this issue, is Mo Mowlam putting herself and her administration above the judicial process?
"What is it about Billy's murder that she does not want made public? She knows the truth will seriously damage this farce of a peace process.
"However, I have information which substantiates my belief that my son was the victim of a political assassination," Mr Wright said. "That evidence will be made public in due course. I will not let this drop until the whole truth is made known."
Mr Wright said his family were "the victims of a policy of selective justice, operated by both the British and Irish governments". Selective justice, he said, "is no justice at all".
United Unionist Assembly member for Upper Bann Mr Denis Watson supported the Wright family call for a public inquiry into the killing saying, "David Wright and his family are entitled to know the truth, as are the family of Rosemary Nelson."
"Justice must be fairly applied to all. The issues arising from the murder of Billy Wright must be confronted, failure to do so renders the legal process ineffective," he added.