Collusion inquiry’s killer witness hangs himself…
“THE war is over,” said INLA prisoner John Kenneway in Maghaberry a while back. “But Billy Wright was an animal.” Kenneway hanged himself earlier this evening, just after the inquiry into his victim’s murder – notorious LVF killer Wright – began. He was expected to give evidence. It comes at a time when there are suspicions about the State’s involvement (or not) with the murder, but according to early reports, last week “Kenneway was refused compassionate temporary release to attend the Christening of a grandchild”. Freed under the Good Friday Agreement, he also had his licence revoked by Secretary of State Peter Hain and was returned to jail in February to face another decade behind bars.
What a bit of timing..
The conspiracy theorists are going to have a field day with this one.
Kennaway’s treatment was very severe. Why was he sent back to the nick for geting drunk and shoooting his mouth off, instead of being let get on with his life? He had also claimed th Provos were after him as a spin off from the Ballymurphy feud between the Devlins and Noto’s, the family who suffered when Stakenife was supposed to be assasssinated by the UFF wing of MI5.
Given the problems Mr. Kenneway was facing, suicide is certainly a very real probability, BUT, it is a convenient happening for a lot of people. I hope the authorities take a very hard and careful look at what happpened. It seems to me that too many people who could have provided hard information about the activities of MI5 and Special Branch have died or disappeared very conveniently.
Of course, since the investigation will be in the hands of Special Branch and MI5, I don’t really think that that hard and careful look will be taken.
The man did something great: he made Billy Wright a memory.
I salute him.
I thought blogs were up to date !! Its been on the BEEB for hours
Perhaps if he’d been wearing pyjamas, Gonzo might have reacted quicker, like.
How convienient….yet another British state murder before he gave evidence.
Anybody from the INLA offering moral judgements on another person is a sick joke. Him and Wright were two sides of the same sick coin.
I am interested however in the way some republicans have reacted to the enquiry into Wright’s murder. If we are to say – who cares how he was gotten rid of coz he was a bad piece of work – then there is a very long list of other terrorists who deserve to be treated in the same way. The truth – or as close to it as possible – needs to be found.
mick is trying to ban the word but
TYPICAL!!!!
I have no intention of casting aspersions upon the man but over the years there have been many “convenient” deaths in ‘Mid-Ulster’. That of Billy Wright was most convenient for the Govt: so too were those of his mentors, RJ Kerr (Portadown) who was killed in an unexplained accident as a result of a petrol explosion on a diesel-engined boat which he was towing at the time; Robin Jackson (The Jackal) – who died very quickly from cancer and among all his many deeds, had spent time in apartheid Sth Africa securing weaponry, where it was revealed through the Reconciliation Forum that the then SA govt had perfected and used a cancer-inducing drug against its opponents and others it and other governments wished silenced.
A third mentor of Billy’s was a man fron outside Dungannon ( whose name I can’t recall off-hand but I should) who was found face down in a slurry pit on his farm a few weeks before RJ’s death.
All 3 have been named over the years as being central to the murderous campaign waged by the UVF in Mid-Ulster, including the bombings in the Republic.
It might sound like a conspiracy – But truth is often stranger than fiction. Now that the Wright Inquiry has commenced, the question has to be ashed – Was there a possibilty that Kenneway was fearful of any revelations???
I’m not trying to blacken the man’s name or not casting aspersions on his character. Just being realistic.
But it is fact that there is now one less person, who played a central role in Wright’s death, who shall not now be giving evidence at the Inquiry.
To me it is more than a coincidence.
Never forget that Billy was solid UVF until Drumcree in 1995/96.
Leaving all the above aside, there is also the fact that the family of David McIlwaine have recently asked the Police Ombudsman’s office to investigate a prominent loyalist (UVF)family in Portadown (now respectable multi-millionaires. The same family have now several very profitable businesses, courtesy of lucrative building contracts for the “security forces” – even though most of the same family have all been arrested (but not necessarily convicted) for UVF activities).
Not to mention the same familily’s certain criminal activities such as being arrested in England in possession of extremely valuable paintings stolen by a major drug-dealing crime gang in Dublin. How did they walk away from that one?
Continued
Perhapd this Belfast Telegraph article can help explain the above -
Ombudsman set to probe UVF boss on alleged deals
Startling claim by victim’s dad
Belfast Telegraph Thursday, May 24, 2007
By Chris Thornton
Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan has been asked to investigate a UVF boss who was allegedly given lucrative deals to carry out work for the police and Army.
The father of a teenager butchered by the terror chief’s gang has made a complaint to Mrs O’Loan’s office, alleging that the UVF leader was awarded contracts because he was an agent.
Mrs O’Loan’s officials are currently considering whether they can pursue the complaint, since it involves civilians who vet contracts on behalf of the security forces.
The complaint has been made by Paul McIlwaine, whose son David was stabbed repeatedly along with another Portadown teenager, Andrew Robb, in February 2000.
The Ombudsman is already investigating aspects of the case touching on whether the Co Armagh UVF boss was working as an informer when the murders took place.
The man, who has never appeared before the courts in connection with the murders, was identified as the owner of an apparent hit list by a witness in the case.
But police destroyed the list – saying bullet marks next to Catholic names were made by a child.
Mr McIlwaine alleges the agent was rewarded with high-paying contracts from the security forces and allowed to carry a personal protection weapon.
“I don’t believe that paramilitaries of any kind should be given preferential treatment as regards tenders and contracts,” he said.
“If the shoe had been on the other foot – and a republican was being paid to work on security force bases – there would have been uproar.”
Mr McIlwaine added: “My understanding is that tenders … are awarded by a civilian organisation.
“A vetting procedure is requested by the police but I’m told it is carried out by the civilian body as well.
“I’m particularly concerned about that, because I believe he would have been working on security force bases even after the murder, possibly as a sub-contractor to another firm with loyalist connections.”
The grieving father has also written to the PSNI to determine who was responsible for awarding contracts.
“I understand fully the procedures of the Police Ombudsman and why they are not allowed to look at civilian organisations. I’m looking at different avenues to get appropriate answers.”
Mr McIlwaine has already lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman about long delays in using forensic evidence in the murder of his son and Andrew Robb.
——————–
McIlwaine’s are also asking the Ombudsman to investigate as to how the RUC and now the PSNI have came to the conclusion that a certain member of this UVF family (despite a conviction) is “a fit person” who can own a publican’s license without any objections ever having been made by the police at the annual renewal.
I forgot to mention that the well-known and prominent family I referred to above has UVF connections dating back to early and mid-1970′s. Almost every adult Catholic in Portadown or the surrounding country areas who lived through that era would most likely confirm that.
John Kenneway will never make the Felons Club again but maybe Paris Hilton will as she has served as much time as Gerry Adams, who has yet to follow Kennaway and take the honoourable way out.
People like Kennaway were led down the garden path and used by the Adams types for their own ends. King Rat had a brain on his shoulder but he had protection like the Jackal etc had.
Look at the Provos who have been politically much more successful than the PUP etc. What normal political party could survive the Denis Donadlson, Northern Bank, Stakeknife, etc scandals. The Provos were protected the same way Paisley has always been.
King Rat’s death was very welcome. But the British knew something would happen there putting the most volatile groups side by side.
The Wonderer can wonder on. But game set and match to MI5.
For the UK government to have allowed Kenneway’s death is the biggest act yet of its colluding in covert killing.
Kenneway was the most important witness to Billy’s assassination, and for HMG to have allowed him to die, especially when it has apparently done everything to destroy all evidence it has about it, is intolerable.
His cell should have been under 24-hour surveillance so that Kenneway had no way of disappearing from the scene, especially after denying the most depressed man even compassionate leave. HMG did what it could to make/let him kill himself.
Does its connivance in convenient killing ever end?
I smell a rat……..
I am by no means a member of the tin foil hat brigade but this “Suicide” does seem a little convenient? Perhaps Keeneway had threatened to go public with what he knew and was silenced?
The main question here is how much John Kenneway knew about the killing of King Rat. Was he just a cog in the wheel, was he offered a deal, did he do a deal or was he part of the republican plot to take out Wright. We shall never know ‘the truth’ that has gone to the grave with Kenneway. Like other parts of this dirty war will ‘the truth’ about anything. Bloody Sunday Enquiry has cost an absolut fortune, between Widgery and Saville, and there is no guarentee ‘the truth’ will ever emerge.
Teach na Failte, the INLA ex-prisoners group had made repeated representations to the NIO and the prison service to get John out of Rule 32 isolation and onto a republican wing. John’s health and well being suffered greatly from being kept in isolation, and from continued beatings from the screws.
That John was allowed to take his own life is a tragedy, and the responsibility lies squarely with those who were aware of John’s condition, but refused to look after his well being. Was it callous ineptness, revenge for Wright’s execution or something more sinister? I don’t know the answers, but it seems pretty clear to me that the responsibilty for John’s death lies with those who ignored repeated warnings that would have saved him.
another dead terrorist, good days work
Observer, you probably say te sdame every time a Muslim is whacked in Iraq. But the problems are deeper.
A guy’s lying dead, who was no threat to anybody but himself. His life could have been saved if people had listened to warnings given.
If that’s what you call a good days work, then I’d ask by whom. I wasn’t aware that it was the NIO’s, PSNI’s or anyone else’s jobs to kill people who are incarcerated.
And to save you the trouble of asking, I wouldn’t equate this in any way with executing Wright, who was directing a campaign of sectarian murder from the Maze.
Is it too far fetched to consider the possibility that Wright’s murder was sanctioned and faciltated by state agents, who used the inla team as their proxy for the murder, and that therefore it’s extremely convenient for Kenneway to be off the scene now, just before he was due to give evidence to the Billy Wright enquiry?
State murder to cover up state murder. Anywhere else but Northern Irelnad I’d say it wasn’t even a apossibility, but unfortunately it’s hard to have any faith in the right actions of any of the players here. Murky waters indeed.
“who was no threat to anybody but himself.”
So why was his license revoked ?
“Wright, who was directing a campaign of sectarian murder from the Maze”
allegedly ?
No tears or either of them.
Who’s doing the post-mortem? Anyone we know?
#
Observer, you probably say te sdame every time a Muslim is whacked in Iraq. But the problems are deeper.
Posted by Gerry Kelly on Jun 09, 2007 @ 12:42 PM
no the mans a convicted terrorist, good riddence
This is Honest Tony’s reply “Mr Blair raised the murder of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, Mr Putin’s threats to train missiles on Europe and the treatment of international companies in Russia, particularly BP”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1907051.ece
The hypocritical bastard covers up murders by British intelligence in Ireland, vastly increases the Brits’ nuclear arsenal and protects bribery by Bae–and he lectures Putin.
what’s next for Honest Tony–coming to Ireland and lecturing the micks about violence.
The only this worst are the fleet street hacks who don’t fall over laughing at the war criminal’s delusions.
He should look at John Kenneway and a remember a quote from the bible “go thou and do likewise”
You cannot build a decent house, or society on rotten foundations, when people like Pete or myself argue that the past must be dealt with, one of the reasons is highlighted in the tragic death of John Kenneway. Half those who have posted to this thread seem to believe that somehow the UK State machine had a hand in his death.
The reason for this is self evident, it is that the truth about the dirty war has never been told to the general public, thus we are willing to believe just about anything, making this judgement on recent history.
deadmanonleave is correct on this, the UK state which had imprisoned him and thus had a duty of care both to protect the person of Mr Kenneway and to ensure he, due to his difficult circumstances did not self harm. With his death it is pretty obvious they failed in at least one of these two.
Yet another reason for a T@RC.
As to John, condolences to his family and friends for their loss.
Not to mention the same familily’s certain criminal activities such as being arrested in England in possession of extremely valuable paintings stolen by a major drug-dealing crime gang in Dublin. How did they walk away from that one?
The Wonderer
I can tell why they walked away from this.
Also there has been increasing pressure put on the likes of
Dessie O’Hare and Declan McGlinchey to provide details of the whereabouts of high value stolen art currently being held in Ireland, Vermeer from Boston, Da Vinci from Scotland, Cezanne from Ashmoleum museum, Harry Hyames stolen art and antiques etc, etc.
A FBI Sting operation before last Christmas nearly led to a gun battle as those with the art saw right through the proposed sting.
It was only the quick and dilligent actions of FBI Agent Bob Wittman, who called off the sting, that saved the day.
No art was recovered but at least no-one got shot.
Offers have been made to both Dessie O’Hare and Declan McGlinchey to turn informant, which have been refused point blank, so now authorites are trying to use the stick.
same with Mr Kennway, only the vindictive nature of refusing him compassionate leave, added to the sectarian nature of his arrest has proven fatal, and sends a clear message to anyone thinking of revealing the truth about how Billy Wright was murdered.
Next victim on the list is Michael McKevitt, who I am sure is making plans to try and protect himself from being murdered and then being passed off as suicide.
We are dealing with a government which openly uses the national security argument to block the investigation of huge bribes by British companies and murder by British agents without much protest from either the British press or public. A government moreover which has recently changed the way Public Enquiries are set up in order that they should be anything but public.
Save your energy for waving the Brits goodbye. They won’t be here for much longer.
Any chance this character topped himself due to guilt for some of the evil he had done to others in his past? This is not unheard of from paramilitaries.
Another example of an “inside job” if only for the fact of forcing Mr Kenneway into a corner, then leaving him to take his own life, collusion passed off as institutionalised negligence.
http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/9295.html
for confirmation of FBI Sting last year.
this guy was scum he did every9one a favour , more please
Was Stobie scume too? He was nicely set up. The biggest terroists in the Troubles were the Brits. Talk about felas having smaller fleas.
Kennaway was expendable. The very fact that they would nudge a suicide like that slong speaks volumes.
The brits really are knee deep in shit.
The funny thing is they keep telling other people to wipe their arses.
How can Blair lecture Putin with a straight face?
Cahal,
EVERY* government is knee-deep in shit. It’s just that some are better at covering their tracks.
With apologies to the fine upstanding peeps in the govt of Greenland.
Dawkins
“EVERY* government is knee-deep in shit”. Maybe but Britsh shit is deeper than most and Honest Tony and the British establishment have achieved a unique level of hyprocrisy in lecturing other countries about the speck in their eye while ignoring the log in britain’s eye.
I only hope lib2016 is right-but I doubt it.
Had Kenneway been identified as a suicide risk?
When I was reporting on a series of deaths at Brixton Prison in London a few years ago, I was told by the solicitor for the families that the Northern Ireland Prison Service had a very good record on suicide prevention.
“Kennaway’s treatment was very severe. Why was he sent back to the nick for geting drunk and shoooting his mouth off, instead of being let get on with his life? He had also claimed th Provos were after him as a spin off from the Ballymurphy feud between the Devlins and Noto’s, the family who suffered when Stakenife was supposed to be assasssinated by the UFF wing of MI5.”
Bizarrely, he went the same way as ‘Mark Swinger Fulton’ one of Wright’s closest companions and, I think, both acts committed in the same jail.
They were once discribed as political prisoners but clearly they were more than that, men with tormented lives and deeply ingrained mental health problems.
Sometimes being too politically cute can disguise inherent problems with the individual.
Mickhall
………
A T&RC will prove nothing. It will leave more questions unanswered than answered. I do not trust any of the players republicans/Loyalists/police/army/governments.
Over the years all of these have been very economical with The Truth, to the extent of telling bare faced lies.
A T&RC will prove nothing.
Yea at this rate there will be nobody left to tell the truth, no truth recovery what with Kennaway and Swinger dead, two men with insight into the most horrendous criminal acts carried out in the name of a political purpose.
If I were Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams I would still be pretty much cacking myself on a daily basis, the old adage of ‘reap what you sow’ certainly seems to have some truth.
If you want the truth, however, we will all have to face up to the fact that ultra-ethnic nationalism thrives on evil and if you want to blame something blame it with the public complicit in the furtherance of it. Sin e.
charlieo
I doubt a T@RC could leave as many unanswered questions as there are today, if it only answered a small number of them it would be a step up on the present time.
In any-case I disagree, true some people may refuse to give evidence etc, but even that would be a forward movement for they will be revealed as individuals or organizations who have something to hide.
Would a T@RC be perfect, of course not, but the response to Mr Kenneway death alone tells one that the status quo is untenable if a half decent society is to emerge within the north of Ireland.
Your attitude seems to be one of hopelessness, ‘nothing can be done’ where I prefer to take the ‘What is to be done’ line.
regards
Mick,
As you know I have long called for a TRC but with an Internationmal dimension to its leadership.
Martin
I have long learned from my posting on the IRBB -what apparently was a British covert site, and has now been closed down without any justification or explanation – that when ‘Ingram’ and Mick Hall start dominating the discussion, it is time to drop the matter.
As long as the British government is unwilling to come clean about anything, thanks to the continuing deceptions, disinformation and deceit of its deep agents like not only ‘Ingram’ but also Sam Rosenfeld, ‘Kevin Fulton’, Annie Machon, David Shayler, etc., nothing will ever be accomplished, no matter what the official character and scope of any inquiry, especially a T&RC, so forget about it.
I am.
‘martin’
Indeed you have and I would just add that an international dimensions to any T@RC is essential, otherwise it would turn into just another UK public enquiry a la Kelly, WMD, Widgery, the list is bloody endless.
Regards
Why is his death described as “tragic”?
I didn’t give a damn when Harold Shipman committed suicide, I didn’t give a damn when Fred West committed suicide. Those who want can add Godwinite examples.
A tragic death is a toddler getting strangled by venetian blind cords in an accident, or a young mother getting breast cancer.
It’s tragic because it was preventable, unnecessary and somebody lost their life because of other people’s negligence or worse. Yes, John Kennaway was a combatant in an armed conflict and many may find that distasteful, however, that makes him no less of a human being.
John took part in the struggle for what he believed was right. I have more respect for him, and for many individuals on the other side who took up arms for what they believed was right, than I do for those in their big houses and with their lofty positions that oversaw years of the sectarian division that spawned so many tragedies.
Would anybody find it tasteful for me to gloat over their deaths?
Why is his death described as “tragic�
Because those who are victims of Brit state terror/Collusion want closure on their own ongoing nightmares.
The real losers are the victims familes, who now are less likely to get justice because of the fear created by this apparent suicide.
I hope you don’t want to deny them closure, or do you? cruimh
Your reply doesn’t make sense to me Art and I don’t accept that guff about him being “a combatant in an armed conflict” deadmanonleave.
Armed Struggle = a conflict in which people used guns for political reasons
Combatant = someone involved in the above
Any way you could say that either doesn’t apply? Seems pretty straightforward to me, Cruimh.
Whatever your opinion of this man, he could have thrown some light on the state collusion and modus vivendi that had dogged the whole of Ireland for years.
His death is a blow to those who look forward to the day when the past can consigned to history in a truthful manner and not be kept from those who lost loved ones, from both sides I might add.
The loss of this mans evidence is tragic don’t you concede that?
Euphemisms and sophistry don’t alter the reality that the man was a terrorist and a murderer deadmanonleave