This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20164370
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Family of shot prison officer David Black 'devastated' | Family of shot prison officer David Black 'devastated' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The family of a Northern Ireland prison officer murdered as he drove to work has been left "absolutely devastated". | The family of a Northern Ireland prison officer murdered as he drove to work has been left "absolutely devastated". |
| David Black, 52, from Cookstown was attacked on the M1 motorway at 07:30 GMT as he drove to HMP Maghaberry. Dissident republicans are being blamed. | David Black, 52, from Cookstown was attacked on the M1 motorway at 07:30 GMT as he drove to HMP Maghaberry. Dissident republicans are being blamed. |
| 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. |
| The Black's family minister, Rev Tom Greer, said his family has appealed for no retaliation "from any quarter". | The Black's family minister, Rev Tom Greer, said his family has appealed for no retaliation "from any quarter". |
| "David's wife Yvonne is broken by the loss of her husband," he said. | "David's wife Yvonne is broken by the loss of her husband," he said. |
| "His children Kyle and Kyra are in a state of shock and are unable to comprehend what has happened, the brutal murder of their father." | "His children Kyle and Kyra are in a state of shock and are unable to comprehend what has happened, the brutal murder of their father." |
| Mr Greer, from Molesworth Presbyterian Church, said that Mr Black was a man who had a "great sense of humour" and was "devoted" to his family and aged parents. | Mr Greer, from Molesworth Presbyterian Church, said that Mr Black was a man who had a "great sense of humour" and was "devoted" to his family and aged parents. |
| "He was also a guy who was a friend to so many people in this community," he added. | "He was also a guy who was a friend to so many people in this community," he added. |
| It is the second tragedy to strike the family in the past year. In November last year, Mrs Black lost her father in a slurry tank accident at his farm in Maghera. | It is the second tragedy to strike the family in the past year. In November last year, Mrs Black lost her father in a slurry tank accident at his farm in Maghera. |
| Mr Black was attacked on the motorway between Portadown and Lurgan. The motorway was closed for most of the day after the attack but has now re-opened. | |
| 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. |
| 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 is a sense of shock at the first killing of a prison officer in Northern Ireland for almost 20 years, but not surprise. | There is a sense of shock at the first killing of a prison officer in Northern Ireland for almost 20 years, but not surprise. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| David Black is not believed to be one of those who had been warned. | David Black is not believed to be one of those who had been warned. |
| 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. |