08/11/2012

Detectives Investigate Site Of Prison Officer Murder

Detectives have been revisiting the scene of the murder of Maghaberry prison officer David Black.

Traffic was reduced to one lane on the M1, where Mr Black was murdered.

The 52-year-old father of two was shot on the M1 on Thursday morning as he drove to work at Maghaberry prison.

The restrictions were put in place this morning between junction 11 at Portadown and Junction 10, the Lurgan off-slip. A 40mph speed restriction was also implemented.

The measures were in place until 09:30.

Electronic signs were running a message appealing to motorists for information. A mobile appeal poster was also positioned to reinforce appeal messages.

Checkpoints have also been set up near the motorway and motorists have been stopped, spoken to and given leaflets appealing for information.

Cars in the Annesborough Road area of Lurgan have also been stopped by police and questioned in order to determine the getaway route used by killers before their car was found burnt out in the Inglewood district of the town.

The vehicle used in the shooting was a dark blue Toyota Camry with Dublin number plates, 94 D 50997. It was found burnt out in Inglewood in north Lurgan at 07:50 GMT.

Mr Black was driving a black Audi A4, with the registration number HHZ 1560.

A 46-year-old man was arrested yesterday in connection with the murder.

Police confirmed detectives investigating the murder arrested the man in Lurgan, County Armagh. He was questioned at Antrim police station.

Mr Black, from Cookstown, was driving along a section of the road in County Armagh when another car pulled up beside him and a number of shots where fired.

His car then veered into a ditch and he died at the scene. The prison officer’s funeral took place on Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denounced Mr Black’s murder.

She said the US continued to support Northern Ireland's ambitions for peace and reconciliation.

(IT/GK)

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