1. Christopher McWilliams was an Irish Republican paramilitary who was a member of both the Irish People's Liberation Organisation and the Irish National Liberation Army during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
14 Facts About Christopher McWilliams
1. 2.
Christopher McWilliams was convicted of the murder of Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright, who was shot by an INLA unit led by McWilliams inside the Maze Prison.
3.
In 1984, Christopher McWilliams was jailed for fourteen years for his part in a shoot-out in a flat in the Lenadoon area of west Belfast in which a leading INLA figure, Paul McCann, and a Royal Ulster Constabulary policeman died, but did not serve the full sentence.
4.
Christopher McWilliams later claimed that he did not carry out the killing and stated that he would name an alleged IPLO gunman who actually shot Mahon.
5.
In June 1997, Christopher McWilliams was among INLA prisoners then transferred to H-Block 6 in the Maze prison following the attempted killing of Kevin McAlorum, an associate of Hugh Torney.
6.
On 27 December 1997, Christopher McWilliams shot and killed LVF leader Billy Wright, known as "King Rat".
7.
Wright, despite being shot, continued to kick and lash out; Christopher McWilliams then climbed into the van and kept on firing at Wright, hitting him a total of seven times.
8.
Christopher McWilliams was interviewed by reporter Martin O'Hagan after the murder of Billy Wright, incensing dissident loyalists.
9.
Shortly afterwards O'Hagan published another article accusing Christopher McWilliams of having stalked a schoolgirl.
10.
Christopher McWilliams had served only two years for the murder of Wright and was released from Magilligan prison on 20 October 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
11.
Christopher McWilliams denied knowing that security cameras were not working and that a watch tower was unmanned that day.
12.
Christopher McWilliams stated that the "decision was taken to eliminate Billy Wright solely because he was the man who had opted to direct a ruthless campaign of slaughter of innocent Catholics from inside Long Kesh".
13.
In 2006, South Armagh victims campaigner, Willie Frazer, called for Christopher McWilliams to be returned to prison following accusations that Christopher McWilliams had become re-involved with dissident republicans in South Down.
14.
Christopher McWilliams died on 28 June 2008 in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry from leukemia, aged 44.