Book of evidence served in trial related to murder of NI prison officer

A book of evidence has been served at the Special Criminal Court in Dublinon a man charged in connection with last year's murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black.

Vincent Banks (44), of Smithfield Gate Apartments, Smithfield, Dublin, was charged last December with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on December 18th, 2012. He was also charged with withholding information in relation to the murder of David Black.

Yesterday, prosecution solicitor Michael O’Donovan said the State was in a position to serve the book of evidence and it was handed to Mr Banks by a detective.

Mr Banks is charged that between October 10th and December 20th inclusive, within the State, being a person who had information which he knew or believed might be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of another person for a serious offence, namely the murder of David Black, did fail without reasonable excuse to disclose the information as soon as was practicable to gardaí.

Father-of-two David Black (52), who worked at the high-security Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim, was shot dead as he drove to work on a motorway near Lurgan in Co Armagh on November 1st. Dissident republicans claimed responsibility for the murder.

The court remanded Mr Banks until June 6th when the case will be mentioned again.