Two men held over murder of prison officer on M1

Two suspected dissident republicans have been arrested over the murder of a prison officer in Northern Ireland.

The men, aged 51 and 34, were arrested in counties Leitrim and Cavan over the killing of David Black in a drive-by gun attack on the M1 motorway last year.

The prison officer, a father of two, was shot dead as he drove along from his home in Cookstown, Co Tyrone to Maghaberry prison just outside Lisburn, Co Antrim.

Gardaí said they arrested two men as part of investigations into dissident republican activities and the murder.

A number of searches were carried out in the Leitrim and Cavan areas and the two men were detained under anti-terror laws, section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.

They are being held at Garda stations in the Cavan area and can be kept in custody for up to 72 hours.