The Billy Boy: The Life and Death of LVF Leader Billy Wright

by Chris Anderson, Tim Pat Coogan (Foreword by)

A cult figure among loyalists, despised and feared by nationalists, Billy "King Rat" Wright is reputed to have been involved in a number of sectarian murders before he himself was shot dead by republican gunmen inside the Maze Prison in 1997. Wright became involved with loyalist paramilitaries at the age of 16, and in the early 1990s he emerged as the UVF commander in the Mid-Ulster area. The Billy Boy documents Wright's role in the Drumcree dispute of 1995-96 and his split from the UVF, recounting how he ignored both a death threat and an order to leave Northern Ireland, only to remain in Portadown and form the Loyalist Volunteer Force. It covers Wright's trial and subsequent imprisonment for a crime it has been claimed was set up by the State; recounts the circumstances of his killing inside a top-security prison; and investigates the allegations of State collusion in Wright's death. Terrifically gripping and often disturbing, The Billy Boy is an exhaustive account of a notorious figure whose life and death were surrounded by controversy and political debate.

Genres: Biography

217 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read having never really heard of Billy Wright before although I did find that this book seemed to play down his role as a paramilitary in favour of his religious beliefs and death within the Maze Prison. I wonder whether he was the politician that he is made out to be (I really doubt it). The book is a good read as it does examine the proposed collusion between the British Government and the INLA to assinate Billy and you do feel for his father in his search to find out the truth. Certaintly to be read with a pinch of salt but overall a good introduction to Billy Wright.

[Paul John Blair]

The author repeats himself over and over in each chapter with regards to the allegations against the prison service and state. We learn nothing about the person Billy Wright. Glad I only paid a pound for it on amazon.

[Martin Morris]

Dark, as with every N.Ireland book, but definitely worth a read. Shame there's more in it about the death of Wright rather than his life, though the clue was in the title I suppose.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointed with this book. The only reason I gave it three instead of two was due to the research and facts surrounding his death [assassination?] in The Maze.