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David Black: Charges dropped against murder accused | David Black: Charges dropped against murder accused |
(35 minutes later) | |
Charges have been dropped against a man charged with the murder of County Tyrone prison officer David Black. | |
Mr Black, 52, a father of two from Cookstown, was shot dead on the M1 motorway as he travelled to work at Maghaberry Prison in November 2012. | |
Sean McVeigh, of Victoria Street, Lurgan, County Armagh, had been charged with his murder. | |
That charge and another of possessing an assault rifle with the intent to endanger life were dropped on Tuesday. | |
A lawyer from the Public Prosecution Service told Craigavon Magistrates' Court: "The charges in this matter are to be withdrawn. | |
"No prosecution has been directed." | |
District judge Mervyn Bates told Mr McVeigh that he was free to go. | |
"As far as this matter is concerned you may be released from custody," he said. "This case is now at an end." | |
Mr McVeigh is to sue the PPS and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for the time he has spent in custody. | |
When he was first arrested and charged in February, Mr McVeigh's lawyers had requested that the PPS review the case as they said there was no evidence against their client. |