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Shot prison officer named as David Black from Cookstown Shot prison officer named as David Black from Cookstown
(35 minutes later)
The prison officer shot dead on the MI in Northern Ireland was David Black, a married father of two, from Cookstown.The prison officer shot dead on the MI in Northern Ireland was David Black, a married father of two, from Cookstown.
Mr Black, 52, was attacked on the motorway between Portadown and Lurgan at about 07:30 GMT as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison, County Antrim.Mr Black, 52, was attacked on the motorway between Portadown and Lurgan at about 07:30 GMT as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison, County Antrim.
A car with Dublin registration plates drove up beside him and fired a number of shots. His car veered into a ditch.A car with Dublin registration plates drove up beside him and fired a number of shots. His car veered into a ditch.
Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said he sustained very serious and probably fatal gunshot wounds.Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said he sustained very serious and probably fatal gunshot wounds.
The car with Dublin registration plates was later found burned out at Inglewood, Lurgan, County Armagh.The car with Dublin registration plates was later found burned out at Inglewood, Lurgan, County Armagh.
The motorway where the attack happened remains closed in both directions.
There has been widespread condemnation of the murder. Prime Minister David Cameron said the Westminster government would do whatever it could to help the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) bring the killers to justice.There has been widespread condemnation of the murder. Prime Minister David Cameron said the Westminster government would do whatever it could to help the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) bring the killers to justice.
"First and foremost this is a dreadful tragedy for the family and friends of David Black who has been so brutally murdered as he went about his work keeping the people of Northern Ireland safe," he said."First and foremost this is a dreadful tragedy for the family and friends of David Black who has been so brutally murdered as he went about his work keeping the people of Northern Ireland safe," he said.
"My heart goes out to them. These killers will not succeed in denying the people of Northern Ireland the peaceful, shared future they so desperately want.""My heart goes out to them. These killers will not succeed in denying the people of Northern Ireland the peaceful, shared future they so desperately want."
There has been a general threat against prison officers for a number of years. It was clear from intelligence that some individual prison officers were being targeted. There is a sense of shock at the first killing of a prison officer in Northern Ireland for almost 20 years, but not surprise.
In the past year, a number of officers have had to move house. Prison officers have been under threat from dissident republicans for a number of years now. There has been a general threat as well as specific threats against some individuals.
Forty-one dissident republicans are at Roe House in Maghaberry Prison. The majority are involved in a no-wash protest against the practice of strip searching at the jail. A number have had to move home under a government funded scheme after being informed that dissidents were monitoring their movements and they were being targeted for possible attack.
Some prisoners are not shaving, some are not washing and some are throwing human waste out onto the corridor rather than using toilets. David Black is not believed to be one of those who had been warned.
The prison service has installed scanners on a trial basis as an alternative to strip searching at two other prisons in NI, but not at Maghaberry.
On Wednesday, NI Secretary Theresa Villiers, told a Westminster committee that the level of threat from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland remained "severe".On Wednesday, NI Secretary Theresa Villiers, told a Westminster committee that the level of threat from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland remained "severe".
However, she said the number of attacks so far this year was slightly down on the same period last year and that their "sophistication and potency" were on the whole lower.However, she said the number of attacks so far this year was slightly down on the same period last year and that their "sophistication and potency" were on the whole lower.
First Minister Peter Robinson said those responsible for Mr Black's murder were "flat earth fanatics" and "deviants".First Minister Peter Robinson said those responsible for Mr Black's murder were "flat earth fanatics" and "deviants".
He added that the murder would only serve to galvanise and unify the community and its leaders.He added that the murder would only serve to galvanise and unify the community and its leaders.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness unreservedly condemned the murder and said those responsible could not kill the peace process.Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness unreservedly condemned the murder and said those responsible could not kill the peace process.
He said there was an onus on what he called the mouthpieces who sometimes speak for these groups to come out to explain the rationale behind "this pointless and futile killing".He said there was an onus on what he called the mouthpieces who sometimes speak for these groups to come out to explain the rationale behind "this pointless and futile killing".
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said the killing was a "completely senseless attack" and the victim was "brutally murdered".PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said the killing was a "completely senseless attack" and the victim was "brutally murdered".
Mr Black's murder was also condemned by the Orange Order. He had been a member of Montober LOL 661, a lodge based in Cookstown.Mr Black's murder was also condemned by the Orange Order. He had been a member of Montober LOL 661, a lodge based in Cookstown.
Mr Black was a very experienced prison officer and had worked through the Troubles.Mr Black was a very experienced prison officer and had worked through the Troubles.
He was one of hundreds of officers who had applied for the prison service redundancy scheme. His application was under consideration and he was awaiting a decision.He was one of hundreds of officers who had applied for the prison service redundancy scheme. His application was under consideration and he was awaiting a decision.
Mr Black was the 30th prison worker to be murdered since 1974 in Northern Ireland.Mr Black was the 30th prison worker to be murdered since 1974 in Northern Ireland.
The last prison officer killed was Jim Peacock who died on 1 September 1993.The last prison officer killed was Jim Peacock who died on 1 September 1993.
Loyalist paramilitary gunmen from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) sledgehammered their way into the Peacock family's Joanmount Park home in north Belfast and shot him dead.Loyalist paramilitary gunmen from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) sledgehammered their way into the Peacock family's Joanmount Park home in north Belfast and shot him dead.
The motorway remains closed in both directions.