Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DEVASTATING
Man cleared of Black murder as trial collapses Son of prison officer says ‘old wounds opened’
The suspect was the subject of threats and inducements JUDGE COLTON BELFAST COURT YESTERDAY
THE collapse of the trial into the killing of a prison officer has reopened old wounds, his son said yesterday.
David Black, 52, died following a motorway drive-by shooting in Co Armagh in November 2012. He had been on his way to work.
A republican organisation calling itself the IRA claimed responsibility.
Damien Mclaughlin, 41, was found not guilty yesterday of aiding and abetting murder, possession of articles for use in terrorism, preparation of terrorist acts and belonging to a proscribed organisation.
He walked free from Belfast Crown Court after prosecutors decided not to appeal a judge’s ruling that part of the evidence obtained by gardai was unsafe.
Mr Mclaughlin had maintained his innocence throughout.
Mr Black’s son Kyle said: “To hear today that the trial had collapsed was just devastating.
“The wound over time scabs over a bit but in the last few weeks, especially today, that scab has been pulled off and it is incredibly raw.”
Mr Mclaughlin, from Kilmascally Road in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, had earlier heard Judge Adrian Colton tell the court: “I direct that a not guilty verdict be entered in respect of this accused.”
Prosecutor Terence Mooney said he had given the matter “earnest consideration”, adding: “I do not make an application for leave to appeal the ruling.
“We will offer no further evidence in respect of any of the offences.” The case against Mr Mclaughlin rested on the evidence of Stephen Brady, from Co Leitrim, who had been interviewed by gardai.
Mr Brady allegedly identified the accused as the man who moved a Toyota Camry car, which it was claimed the gunmen used in the ambush of Mr Black.
It was later found burnt out in the Kilwilkee Estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
Earlier this week, Judge Colton told the court: “The risk of unreliability of Brady’s statements is such that they should not be admitted by way of hearsay.”
He said profanities used by gardai were “excessive and oppressive” and interviews were conducted in such a way as to “undermine” the suspect’s right to silence. The judge added: “In the course of the interviews the suspect was the subject of threats and inducements.”
Relatives of father-of-two Mr Black, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, were in court for the verdict.
Afterwards, his son said their lives had been changed for ever and it was difficult to understand why someone would take a caring and compassionate man from his loved ones.
Acknowledging the chances of getting justice were becoming slimmer by the day, Kyle said the family still hoped someone would be held accountable.