Il prominente repubblicano di Lurgan è uno dei due arrestati in connessione con l’omicidio della guardia carceraria David Black
David Black, 52 anni, è stato colpito a morte giovedì mattina mentre percorreva la M1 in direzione della prigione di Maghaberry dove lavorava come guardia carceraria.
Dopo l’agguato con arma da fuoco l’auto di Black è finita nel fosso che corre lungo la carreggiata. L’attacco è avvenuto tra Portadown e Lurgan, una zona ad elevata densità repubblicana nella Contea di Armagh.
Una Toyota Camry, con targa dublinese, è stata in seguito trovata parzialmente bruciata nella zona di Inglewood a Lurgan.
La polizia indica i gruppi repubblicani contrari al processo di pace come responsabili per l’attacco mortale. Da tempo i prigionieri repubblicani detenuti a Maghaberry stanno protestando contro le dure condizioni di vita nel carcere di massima sicurezza.
David Black era arruolato nel Prison Service da oltre 30 anni e ultimamente stava per avviare il processo di pensionamento.
Sua moglie e i due figli sono “assolutamente devastati” dall’omicidio.
L’uomo era anche membro dell’Orange Order. Black è la trentesima guardia carceraria uccisa nel corso dei Troubles, sebbene sia la prima vittima dopo quasi 20 anni.
Tratto da Sky News
Duffy Arrested Over NI Prison Officer Murder
Irish republican Colin Duffy is one of two men being held by police in connection with the murder of prison officer David Black in Northern Ireland, according to Sky sources.
Mr Black, 52, was gunned down on the M1 motorway early on Thursday morning as he drove to work at the top security Maghaberry jail near Lisburn, County Antrim.
The father of two’s car veered off the road and into a drainage ditch after the shots were fired. He was on a stretch of the motorway between Portadown and Lurgan – a dissident republican stronghold in County Armagh.
A Toyota Camry used in the attack was later found burned out in the Inglewood area of Lurgan.
Police have blamed dissident republicans opposed to the peace process for the ambush. They have been engaged in a long-running campaign against conditions in Maghaberry.
Mr Black, from Cookstown, County Tyrone, had served in the Prison Service for more than 30 years and was considering retirement.
His wife and children are said to be “absolutely devastated” by the murder, which happened just as their beloved husband and father was looking forward to relaxing after over three decades in the job.
The long-standing member of the Orange Order became the 30th prison officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland since 1974, though the first for almost 20 years.
He was driving his black Audi A4 when the dark blue Toyota drew up alongside and several shots were fired. Police believe he may have already been dead when his car veered off the road.