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Shot prison officer named as David Black from Cookstown Shot prison officer named as David Black from Cookstown
(about 1 hour 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.
First Minister Peter Robinson said those responsible were "flat earth fanatics" and "deviants". 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.
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.
In the past year, a number of officers have had to move house.
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.
Some prisoners are not shaving, some are not washing and some are throwing human waste out onto the corridor rather than using toilets.
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.
"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."
Dissident threat '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.
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".
"It demonstrates the recklessness and the ruthlessness of those who still oppose peace. We cannot allow these people to succeed and we won't," he said."It demonstrates the recklessness and the ruthlessness of those who still oppose peace. We cannot allow these people to succeed and we won't," he said.
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.
Police are investigating a link between the attack and a burnt out car found in Lurgan, County Armagh.Police are investigating a link between the attack and a burnt out car found in Lurgan, County Armagh.
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.
In the past year, a number of officers have had to move house.
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.
Some prisoners are not shaving, some are not washing and some are throwing human waste out onto the corridor rather than using toilets.
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.
Justice Minister David Ford said the murder was "shocking news for everyone in Northern Ireland".Justice Minister David Ford said the murder was "shocking news for everyone in Northern Ireland".
"My sympathy goes out to his family and colleagues. It is a family and a human tragedy," he said."My sympathy goes out to his family and colleagues. It is a family and a human tragedy," he said.
"But this is a sign of those seeking to drag us back into the past when most of NI is preparing for a different future.""But this is a sign of those seeking to drag us back into the past when most of NI is preparing for a different future."
Mr Ford said that dissident republicans - thought to be behind the attack - had very little support but could be ruthless.Mr Ford said that dissident republicans - thought to be behind the attack - had very little support but could be ruthless.
He said the threat level in Northern Ireland remained severe and individual prison and police officers had been targeted.He said the threat level in Northern Ireland remained severe and individual prison and police officers had been targeted.
"A number have moved homes in recent times," he pointed out."A number have moved homes in recent times," he pointed out.
"But it is a matter of getting the measure of the deadly threat and yet the limited support that it has.""But it is a matter of getting the measure of the deadly threat and yet the limited support that it has."
Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association of Northern Ireland condemned the killing.Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association of Northern Ireland condemned the killing.
"I call on the community in the area that those people come from to hand them over and let justice be seen to be done," he said."I call on the community in the area that those people come from to hand them over and let justice be seen to be done," he said.
Speaking about the murdered officer, Mr Spratt said: "He's a long serving officer. He served this community right down through the Troubles, the hunger strike and everything.Speaking about the murdered officer, Mr Spratt said: "He's a long serving officer. He served this community right down through the Troubles, the hunger strike and everything.
"This officer did his bit for the community.""This officer did his bit for the community."
NI Secretary Theresa Villiers said it was "a cowardly and evil attack".
"The thoughts and deepest sympathy of us all are with the family, friends and colleagues of the murdered prison officer," she said.
"Like his colleagues across the prison service he was dedicated to serving the whole community in Northern Ireland. This is in stark contrast to the people responsible for this despicable crime."
Labour's Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Vernon Coaker said the attack was "sickening and despicable".Labour's Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Vernon Coaker said the attack was "sickening and despicable".
"Prison officers do a remarkable job in very difficult circumstances. An attack on any one them is an attack on the criminal justice system, the law and the community," he said."Prison officers do a remarkable job in very difficult circumstances. An attack on any one them is an attack on the criminal justice system, the law and the community," he said.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Those who have carried out this attack on an innocent man represent the past and have nothing to offer the men, women and children of this country who have long since rejected terrorism."Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Those who have carried out this attack on an innocent man represent the past and have nothing to offer the men, women and children of this country who have long since rejected terrorism."
SDLP assembly member for Upper Bann, Dolores Kelly, said the incident was "sickening and disturbing".SDLP assembly member for Upper Bann, Dolores Kelly, said the incident was "sickening and disturbing".
East Belfast Alliance Party MP Naomi Long also expressed sadness following the shooting.East Belfast Alliance Party MP Naomi Long also expressed sadness following the shooting.
"It has particular ramifications for people," she said. "It is very distressing but also very upsetting in a political way. What the people in Northern Ireland want is for this to be over.""It has particular ramifications for people," she said. "It is very distressing but also very upsetting in a political way. What the people in Northern Ireland want is for this to be over."
This is the 30th prison worker to be murdered since 1974 in Northern Ireland.This is 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 has been closed in both directions.The motorway has been closed in both directions.