David Black: 'IRA' Claims Murder

A group calling itself "the IRA" has claimed responsibility for the shooting of prison officer David Black.

The victim, 52, was shot on the M1 on 1 November as he drove to work at Maghaberry prison.

In a statement to the Irish News today, the group said its actions were a result of a mission to "protect and defend" republican prisoners.

It is believed a new terrorist group has been formed from a collection of previously separate republican paramilitary factions.

The new "IRA" was formed over the summer and has brought together the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs and a group of non-aligned republicans, thought to be based in the Craigavon area.

The murder of David Black is said to have been in relation to the ongoing dispute in Maghaberry prison, where republicans are calling for political concessions to be made, including the end of strip searches.

In demands reminiscent of the Provisional IRA and INLA in the Maze prison in the 70s and 80s, dissident republican prisoners are now calling for political status.

David 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.

Mr Black’s car then veered into a ditch. He died at the scene.

The father-of-two was the first prison officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland in nearly 20 years and was the 30th prison worker to be murdered by paramilitaries in Northern Ireland since 1974.

(IT/GK)