A convicted killer yesterday boasted about his victim, Billy Wright, as he was sentenced for the second time in two days. INLA gunman Christopher McWilliams had just been jailed for seven years along with John Kenneway when he made his boast to a detective about Wright.
"Billy won't be getting out in two years," said McWilliams indicating his belief that INLA inmates are to be given the signal by Northern Secretary Dr Mo Mowlam that they will be getting early release under the Belfast Agreement.
On Tuesday McWilliams, Kenneway and a third INLA man were jailed for life by Mr Justice Kerr for shooting their LVF rival as he sat in a prison van in the Maze last December.
Yesterday McWilliams (35) and Kenneway (35) were sentenced by the same judge for having two guns used when they took a warder hostage in another jail at Maghaberry, on April 28th last year, eight months before they murdered Wright. Belfast Crown Court heard the pair initially claimed they were protesting over the LVF chief being moved from the prison.
But during hours of negotiations to free the captive warder, McWilliams admitted that "was not the real reason" and demanded to see another INLA inmate, Kevin McAlorum.
He was being held on remand having been arrested while on the run during an INLA feud which claimed the lives of his sister Barbara and INLA chief Gino Gallagher.
The two Belfast men never got to see McAlorum, as the authorities had "a genuine fear for the safety of McAlorum" despite McWilliams' claims the pair were "friends".
Later when they surrendered, staff found a newspaper cutting on Kenneway about the murder of INLA chief Gino Gallagher.
Their plans were foiled because the prison block housing McAlorum was being searched for weapons and other contraband.