Cleared of role in prison officer case

A man has been cleared of withholding information relating to the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black.

Vincent Banks, aged 46, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, had denied the charge at the Special Criminal Court of withholding information in relation to the murder between October 10 and December 20, 2012.

The court heard that Mr Black, aged 52, who worked at Maghaberry jail in Co Antrim, was murdered on the M1 motorway near Lurgan on November 1, 2012.

It was the prosecution case Mr Black was shot dead by the occupants of a Toyota Camry and that this car was purchased by Mr Banks.

Yesterday Mr Justice Paul Butler said the non-jury court was satisfied Mr Black was “brutally murdered”. The court was satisfied, he said, Mr Banks had “surreptitiously” bought a Toyota Camry and registered it in a false name and the car was linked forensically to the shots that killed Mr Black.

However, the judge said that in order to convict Mr Banks, the court must come to the conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt Mr Banks was aware that the car was to be used in connection with the murder of Mr Black.

“As no evidence, as opposed to suspicions, was led in that regard, the court is satisfied that that conclusion is just one step too far and must be in doubt as to whether he had this knowledge,” the judge added, and the court acquitted him.

Mr Banks was remanded on bail until April 9 on a charge of IRA membership.