The legacy of Billy Wright, the former terror chief known as ‘King Rat’, is still deeply felt within loyalist communities in Northern Ireland. Wright was vehemently anti-peace process and oversaw a bitter sectarian murder campaign for both the UVF and LVF. Disgruntled UVF members have been honoring his memory with posters across the Shankill estate, proclaiming ‘Billy Was Right – No Irish Sea Border’. This reflects the anger still felt by some loyalists, who believe they were ‘sold a pup’ with the Good Friday Agreement, which they say has led to the imposition of an Irish Sea border as part of the Brexit agreement. The withdrawal of support of the GFA by paramilitary group the Loyalist Communities Council earlier this year has increased tensions, and with the marching season looming, there are concerns over the potential for trouble. Despite police suspicions that Wright was responsible for at least 20 sectarian killings, some within loyalist circles continue to hail him as a martyr and look to his opposition to the peace process as vindication for their current dissatisfaction.
