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David Black: murdered prison officer's funeral taking place | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The funeral of murdered prison officer David Black is under way with a private service at his home in County Tyrone. | |
The father of two was shot dead on the M1 in County Armagh on Thursday as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison. | The father of two was shot dead on the M1 in County Armagh on Thursday as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison. |
The 52-year-old from Cookstown was the first prison officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland in almost 20 years. | |
After the service at the house, the cortege will make its way through Cookstown for a service at Molesworth Presbyterian Church. | |
Mourners began arriving at the church at about 11:00 GMT. Among them are uniformed colleagues of Mr Black. | |
Police sniffer dogs earlier searched around the church ahead of the funeral. | |
Dissident Irish republicans are being blamed for Mr Black's murder. | |
Three men arrested over it have been released without charge. | |
The interment, which is private, will take place at Kildress Parish Church. | The interment, which is private, will take place at Kildress Parish Church. |
A Sinn Fein source told the BBC that Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had been very willing to go to Mr Black's family home in Cookstown and to attend the funeral. | A Sinn Fein source told the BBC that Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had been very willing to go to Mr Black's family home in Cookstown and to attend the funeral. |
However, he had been told the Black family did not wish to have any Sinn Fein representatives there. | However, he had been told the Black family did not wish to have any Sinn Fein representatives there. |
The source said the deputy first minister respected the family's wishes. | The source said the deputy first minister respected the family's wishes. |
Presbyterian moderator Rev Roy Patton will be one of the clergy taking part in the service. | Presbyterian moderator Rev Roy Patton will be one of the clergy taking part in the service. |
He said it would be a sad and difficult occasion. | He said it would be a sad and difficult occasion. |
"I think at a time like this we appreciate the inadequacy of words and how difficult it is to express those feelings we have," he said. | "I think at a time like this we appreciate the inadequacy of words and how difficult it is to express those feelings we have," he said. |
"But at the same time we want to communicate very clearly to the family the depth of feeling. | "But at the same time we want to communicate very clearly to the family the depth of feeling. |
"I know that as I share in the service today and bring condolences to the family, I will do so on behalf of not only the Presbyterian church, but a wider community united in revulsion and rejection of such an act." | "I know that as I share in the service today and bring condolences to the family, I will do so on behalf of not only the Presbyterian church, but a wider community united in revulsion and rejection of such an act." |
At the same time as the funeral, a vigil will be held in Belfast in memory of Mr Black. | At the same time as the funeral, a vigil will be held in Belfast in memory of Mr Black. |
It takes place at 13:00 GMT outside the city hall and has been organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. | It takes place at 13:00 GMT outside the city hall and has been organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. |
Visits to Maghaberry prison have also been cancelled on Tuesday because of the funeral. | Visits to Maghaberry prison have also been cancelled on Tuesday because of the funeral. |