A leaked police report proves the prison murder of loyalist terror leader Billy Wright could have been prevented, Democratic Unionist MP Mr Peter Robinson claimed tonight.
The DUP deputy leader told the House of Commons that the confidential report into the 1997 shooting at the top security Maze Prison showed a series of very specific warnings were made.
The MP renewed calls for an independent public inquiry into the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader's death and accused the British government of a cover-up.
He said the contents of the report - which the High Court in Belfast refused to release to the terror boss's father in March - raised suggestions of collusion in the death.
Northern Ireland Security Minister Ms Jane Kennedy dismissed the allegations and said prison governors in the North were "inundated with rumours and warnings".
She told the Belfast East MP in a short debate that the death was regrettable but efforts had been made to manage the risk posed to Wright at the prison.
Mr Robinson said a copy of the contents of the report into Wright's murder by members of the republican INLA had been sent to him anonymously.
"The contents strengthen the call for a full public inquiry. The contents of this file give rise to a number of very serious questions about the failure of the authorities to heed any one of a number of warnings from various prison staff before the murder of Mr Wright.
"The file shows that in the months leading up to the murder, prison governors were personally and in correspondence, warned about security at H-Block 6.
"They were warned about the danger of an attack, they were warned about how an attack would take place and they were even given the names of the prisoners who would be involved.
"The file also shows that prisoners, some of whom were subsequently involved in the murder, were reported examining the fence and determining how to get through it.
"The governors were told about concerns about camera coverage, about the dropping of the guard at the watchtowers and over arrangements relating to visits.
"All of these concerns were ignored and the officers were left with the impression that their warnings had been a waste of time and that no corrective measures would be taken."
He said it contained details of statements showing that Government ministers had been acquainted with the concerns over security at the prison.
Government claims in the Commons in the months before the murder that security had been tightened were "at total variance with the contents of the police file".
He said the file contained details of how prison staff watched INLA prisoners - under guise of painting a mural - watching the movements of UVF prisoners.
"Experienced officers were able to identify the intended target and the INLA prisoners involved.
"They were even able to advise the governor how the attack was to be carried out.
"No responsible governor would have ignored these warnings.
"Given the highly political sensitivity of the intended attack, did the governor contact the Northern Ireland office? Did officials there inform the minister?
"We don't know because, bizarre as it seems, these matters were not investigated."
PA