Prison officer shot dead in ambush

A long-serving prison officer was gunned down by dissident republicans in a motorway ambush in the North yesterday morning.

Married father-of-two David Black, 52, was shot several times from a car that pulled up alongside his on the M1 near Lurgan, Co Armagh, as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison.

Colleagues have said Mr Black, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, had been actively considering retirement after more than 30 years’ service.