This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8007182.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Paisley's court deadline expires Paisley refuses to meet deadline
(about 4 hours later)
A High Court deadline ordering Ian Paisley Jnr to reveal the source of important information relating to the murder of Billy Wright expires today. Ian Paisley Jnr has said he will not comply with a High Court deadline for him to reveal the source of information relating to the murder of Billy Wright.
Mr Paisley claims a former prison warder gave him vital information about procedures at the Maze prison where the LVF leader was shot dead in 1997.Mr Paisley claims a former prison warder gave him vital information about procedures at the Maze prison where the LVF leader was shot dead in 1997.
Last month, the court said he had until 20 April to reveal the identity of his source to the Billy Wright inquiry. He said it was now "up to the courts" to decide whether punishing him was "in the public interest".
However, Mr Paisley said he would go to jail rather than give this information. Today is the deadline for him to reveal his source to the Billy Wright inquiry.
Mr Paisley said: "I'm not going to appeal today - I don't believe it's in my personal or financial interests to keep it running."
"If I appeal and win, this case goes to the House of Lords," he said.
There's no obligation on courts to send people to prison for contempt - that obviously is the most serious punishment Joshua RosenbergLegal commentator
"If I don't appeal and just let the case continue to run back to the High Court, nothing changes for me - I'm not revealing the name."
Mr Paisley said there was an important principle at stake.
He said: "Do I have the same rights as priests, solicitors or journalists to protect my source or should I so damage the confidence of the public that they can no longer go to a public representative in confidence?
"This is about protecting the rights of constituents - ultimately we are their servants and I have to put them first. I will be taking this name to my grave."
Mr Paisley had previously insisted he was prepared to go to jail to protect his source, but legal commentator Joshua Rosenberg said a fine was a more likely punishment.
"There's no obligation on courts to send people to prison for contempt - that obviously is the most serious punishment," he said.
"I suppose the question is, would Mr Paisley pay the fine?"
Mr Paisley said: "I don't believe I would."
Files
In June 2007, Mr Paisley wrote to Billy Wright's father with information that the NI Prison Service had employed people to destroy about 5,600 files shortly after his son was shot at the Maze Prison.In June 2007, Mr Paisley wrote to Billy Wright's father with information that the NI Prison Service had employed people to destroy about 5,600 files shortly after his son was shot at the Maze Prison.
Mr Paisley had said he was told of an alleged policy within the prison service to destroy a large number of files as an emergency due to data protection legislation.Mr Paisley had said he was told of an alleged policy within the prison service to destroy a large number of files as an emergency due to data protection legislation.
He said this information, which was provided by a "senior prison officer", claimed that the decision to destroy the files was "taken at the top".He said this information, which was provided by a "senior prison officer", claimed that the decision to destroy the files was "taken at the top".
In his ruling in March, Mr Justice Gillen said that although it was important for elected representatives to be able to protect the confidentiality of a source, the information played a central part in enabling the inquiry to determine whether or not the prison authorities had facilitated Mr Wright's death.In his ruling in March, Mr Justice Gillen said that although it was important for elected representatives to be able to protect the confidentiality of a source, the information played a central part in enabling the inquiry to determine whether or not the prison authorities had facilitated Mr Wright's death.