Tyrone man charged over murder of prison officer
A MAN has appeared in court in Northern Ireland on charges related to the murder of prison officer David Black.
It is understood the individual extradited is suspected dissident republican Damien McLaughlin.
The 41-year-old was arrested in Armagh on Tuesday following his extradition from the Republic, police said.
He was arrested for alleged offences of aiding and abetting murder; membership of a proscribed organisation; commissioning and instigating preparatory acts of terrorism; and committing and assisting acts of terrorism.
He appeared before Armagh Magistrates’ Court yesterday and was remanded in custody until January 12, the PSNI said in a statement.
Mr Black was gunned down on the M1 near Lurgan in Co Armagh as he made his way to work in November 2012. Damien McLaughlin (41), of Kilmascally Road, Ardboe, Co Tyrone, absconded from his bail address in west Belfast last November and went on the run.
He was arrested in Co Donegal earlier this year.
He had been on bail but when police called to the west Belfast address he could not be found and milk in the fridge was four weeks out of date.
His disappearance while on bail provoked a public outcry from David Black’s family, who said they “felt let down and hurt by the justice system’’.
Mr Black’s widow Yvonne, daughter Kyra and son Kyle were later visited by the PSNI officer leading the manhunt for McLaughlin, Detective Chief Supt Raymond Murray.
In October, Dublin man Vincent Banks (49), who bought the car that was later used in the fatal shooting, was jailed for five years in the Republic for IRA membership.