01/11/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. One story dominates our programme

tonight, the murder of Prison Officer David Black, shot dead in

his car on the M1 as he travelled to work at Maghaberry Prison.

Dissident Republicans are being blamed. There's been strong

political condemnation of the murder. They are flat Earth

fanatics, living in the dark Ages, spewing out he could from every

pore. What they can't kill is the police process. We are the proof of

that. Just why has the first murder of a

prison officer in almost 20 years taken place now. We will be getting

the assessment of our Home Affairs David Black was a married man with

two children. From Cookstown, and a long-serving prison officer, this

morning he was shot dead on his way to work at Maghaberry. He was

ambushed on the M1 when a car drew alongside him and a suspected

dissident gunman opened fire. The attack happened between junction 10

and junction 11, not far from Portadown and close to the

motorway's Lurgan turn off. The car thought to have been used

by the gunmen was later found burnt out at Inglewood off the town's

North Circular Road. Tonight his family have appealed for no

retaliation. Gordon Adair is close to the scene of the shooting

tonight. At true gentleman, a family man, he

would never pass you by without saying hello. That is how David

Black was described by his minister this afternoon. Here is how the

events of the day unfolded. A savage assassination in the rush-

hour traffic. David Black's car lies submerged working to a halt in

a ditch beside the M one. The 52- year-old was probably already dead,

having been hit by several bullets. He had travelled from his home in

Cookstown. His journey was end here in violence and horror. Mr Black

was approaching the bridge behind me close to Lurgan when at to you

to come free with Dublin number plates pulled alongside. The

passenger wind down the window and opened fire, hiss -- hitting Mr

Black's several times. Mr Black's car went off the motorway and ended

up in a deep drainage base -- which. The gunmen's car was found later

burnt out in Inglewood. We have been aware that dissident

republican groups have been targeting prison officers and they

have been a subject of conspiracy to murder by dissident republican

groups. The motive behind this is sheer terror. Mr Black was married

to Avon, and had two children. He was a member of the Orange Order

and volunteered for the Boys' Brigade. He had been a prison

officer for more than 30 years. I understand he had applied for early

retirement under the enhanced redundancy scheme and that his

application was under consideration. This attack bears an uncanny

resemblance to an IRA ambush back in the late 1980s. On that occasion

the target was a prison officer driving along the A one. That time

the officer was able to keep control of his car despite being

hit twice. He drove on and survive. Tragically, that wasn't to be the

outcome here today. All day the motorway remained shut in both

directions as the police carried out forensic examinations and

follow-up searches. A short time ago a vehicle recovery lorry

arrived. Officers are now eight searching the possible getaway

route. This investigation will go on for some time yet. The wider

operation is likely to go on for some time. This is of the operation

on the motorway seems to have just ended. Cones are being removed and

it looks like the motor we should be open again shortly.

The family's minister has been talking to our reporter, Louise

Cullen. There is an immense sadness and

sense of lost there. His wife and kids belong to our church, his

mother and father, and his sister. All around there was a great sense

of loss and sadness. It is impossible to describe. What about

David black? David was a gentleman. A lovely guy to know. Tokely

devoted to his wife and family and a degree parents. He was a regular

attender at our morning worship each Sunday. He would have been

involved in the Church Bowling Club. A guy he everybody likes of and

loved greatly, not only in the church but in the wider community.

He was very involved in the community? He grew up in Cookstown

can live to all of his life. He was very much a committed Cookstown man

and well known and respected by everyone. This will have a very

wide impact be on the family. would think so. This has not only a

tragedy for this family, but for all the good things that have been

happening in Northern Ireland. The measure of reconciliation that has

come to pass, it has been a slow and difficult thing. This is an

area where a lot of the Troubles played out in years past. That kind

of healing of relationships that has been happening in the community,

this kind of thing impact upon all of that. If I could say, first of

all and perhaps of the family, the last thing they want, they made it

clear to me, is for this to turn the clock back. They are committed

to seeing a peaceful Northern Ireland. They are very clear they

want no hint of retaliation on the part of anyone because of David's

murder today. David Black is the 30th prison

officer to be killed since the start of the Troubles. The period

of greatest threat was during the IRA hunger strikes in the 1980s. In

recent years, tensions have risen again in relation to a dispute

involving dissident Republican prisoners at Magheraberry. Mervyn

Jess reports. The roll of honour at the Prison

Officers' Association offices at the names of 29 members of staff

murdered during the Troubles. This morning's killing one mean another

name will be added. The association's chairman work with

David Black. He serve this community right down through the

Troubles, the hunger strike and everything. This officer did his

bit for the community. He would have been coming up to retirement

age. For this to happen to him and the family, it is a disgrace. Those

people don't listen. There are people out there who know who did

this. Let them do their duty and step up and hand their names

forward. The last prison officer to be murdered was in 1993. Jim

Peacock were shot dead by the UVF at a time when loyalist inmates

were protesting over conditions in the Maersk. The vast majority of

prison officers was killed by the IRA. 20 staff were murdered by the

republican group. Prison staff were viewed as legitimate targets,

particularly during the hunger strike and dirty protests. The H-

blocks are gone, but prison protests continue. Dissident

republican supporters have been demonstrating over inmate searches

and conditions. The director- general of the Prison Service here

says it won't divert them from changes to depression -- to

depression regime. We will not allowed this to do real the efforts

we are making to reform or service. We will do everything we can to

support all of our staff in the difficult days ahead. The chairman

of the Stormont justice committee says the attack was against the

entire community. An attack on a prison officer is an attack on

society as a whole. Everybody will stand in repulsion to this. I have

no doubt there will attend to inflict more pain and kill further

people. We as politicians, as community leaders need to stand up

and say, it is not going to work. The Prison Officers' Association

had a strong message for the Government in light of this murder.

I would also call on those that are responsible for the security of

prison officers, but they step up to the fore because I can tell you

recently, the security around prison officers has been stripped

away because we were told that we live in a normal society. Four

prison officers, the word normal society doesn't apply. The murder

has been condemned by the Grand Master of the Orange Order. Mr

Black was a member of a lodge in Cookstown for 30 years.

Joining me is the Justice Minster, David Ford. How would you respond

to what thinly spat at the say, that the security provision for

prison officers has been stripped away? The first thing I have to say

is to express my sympathy to the family and to friends, because that

is the key issue. There was a family tragedy today. I want to

condemn those who would carry out such a deed. It is clear that there

are a small number of people people in the society who are determined

to drag us back. The vast majority of people are determined we will

not be dragged back. On the specific issue raised by Finley, he

was talking about the resilience of Prussian -- of prison officers. I

do not recognise what he is saying about security being stripped away.

As I understand it, security adviser has been given to all

prison officers. It has given in general terms. We are hearing today

that some prison officers have been unable to retain their personal

protection weapons. Why? I have no knowledge of the detail of that.

The responsibility of that lies with the Northern Ireland Office.

What I can say, is that those require advice or assistance in

moving house in emergency, have been given that assistant. What is

going on at Maghaberry prison? is going on is the Northern Ireland

Prison Service are running the best possible regime with the resources

it has, seeking to implement reforms. Seeking to ensure that all

prisoners are treated well. this dispute with dissident

republican prisoners at the moment? Just because dissident republican

prisoners are having a dispute, does not mean that the Prison

Service has not doing its job properly. There are a small -- a

small number of prisoners who do not excepts prison protocol. We did

hear that agreement had been reached, but prisoners and their

supporters say that that agreement has been breached. Is that the

case? The agreement has been breached because prisoners and

their supporters have made threats against prison officers, and we

have seen a prison officer murdered. That is the breach of the agreement.

We have lived up to the agreement that has been reached.

The First and Deputy First Ministers condemned the killing in

a joint news conference. The Prime Minister said it was a dreadful

tragedy for Mr Black's family while the Chief Constable has said the

murder was completely senseless. Chris Page has more.

As they have done several times before when dissident republicans

have taken lives, Peter Robinson and Mark and McGuinness stood

shoulder to shoulder. The leaders of mainstream Unionism and

republicanism can dent the killers of David Black. What really gets to

me is that somewhere in a so-called safe house a gang of deviance are

slapping each other on the back congratulating themselves on

carrying out its this murder. McGuinness said that the dissidents

would not threaten stability. they can kill is the peace process.

We are the proof of that. Our community stance absolutely four-

square and United against the activities of these groups.

Prime Minister has said the killing his act: A dreadful tragedy for the

friends and family of David Black. He added these murderers will not

succeed in denying the people of Northern Ireland the peaceful shirt

future they so desperately want. Earlier, the chief constable had

spoken of his horror and disgust. It was a completely senseless

attack. It demonstrates very aptly the ruthlessness and the Shia

dangerousness of those who still oppose peace. They are addicted to

taking us back to the dark days of the past. Politicians from all

sides have come together in combination. They hope that this

show of unity will put off any notion that killings can put off

that peace process. Our home affairs correspondent

Vincent Kearney joins me. Vincent, just last week the Government

announced that the threat posed by dissident republicans in Britain

had decreased. Is there surprise that this attack has taken place?

There is a shock today at the depth of a prison officer. In terms of

surprise, this wasn't entirely unexpected. While the government

decreased the threat level in Britain, they stressed the threat

level remains at the beer. In the past couple of years we have no one

but the priority target for dissident groups has been police

officers. There has been a general threat against prison officers as

well and, against a number of individuals. They were warned that

they were being targeted. We know that a number of prison officers

have been forced to move home under government-funded schemes. It was

the one there was a threat there. There is a sense of shock, but not

unexpected. Why now? It could simply be that an opportunity arose.

Also, we know that there was an ongoing dispute at Maghaberry

prison. 41 dissident republicans are in Maghaberry. Many of them are

taking part in a dirty prosects -- protest. They accused the present

authorities are breaking an agreement aimed at ending strip

searches. The present authorities say that is not the case. Another

possible factor is at the moment in the prison service it is running a

recruitment campaign. Just last week the new head of the Prison

Service expressed disappointment at the low number odds of Catholics

joining the service. Is entirely possible that those who killed

David Black may hope to deter young Catholics from joining the prison

service. This murder this morning was very well-planned and organised,

but by who? Dissident republicans are being blamed. There was the

announcement over the summer of the new organisation called the IRA.

Some of the non aligned so republicans but join their grouping

are said to operate in that area. The continuity IRA shot dead a

constable in Craigavon. Those two groups will probably fall under

immediate suspicion. The Secretary of State Theresa

Villiers will join other senior politicians to discuss the murder

on The View tonight at 10.35pm here on BBC One.

Now some of the rest of today's news. The Fermanagh businessman

Sean Quinn will find out tomorrow if he will go to jail for defying

the orders of Dublin Court. Today it emerged that the former Anglo

Irish Bank has suffered another setback in its battle to take

control of Mr Quinn's international property empire. Our Business and

Economics Editor, Jim Fitzpatrick, reports.

Sean Quinn junior arriving at the Court in Dublin today. Recently

free after serving a three-month prison term for content. Sean

senior is wondering if he might be the one heading to jail today for

his role in pitting 500 million euro worth of property assets

beyond the reach of the former Anglo Irish Bank. Judge Elisabeth

Dunn had the tax their own bank is losing the battle to recover that

property in Russia and Ukraine and has now entered at partnership deal

with Russian experts to try and get some money back. On the question

whether Sean Quinn should go to prison for his content of earlier

court orders, the judge heard his barrier make an impassioned plea to

spare him from prison. The judge sold to impose a custodial sentence,

it should be stayed pending the Supreme Court appeal. The bank

refused to say it the wanted to see Sean Quinn go to jail. But senior

council did tell the court that the decision must be consistent with

the findings of contempt. The judge adjourned proceedings until

tomorrow morning. Sean Quinn walked free again today. Whether he will

exit from these kits tomorrow depends on what the judge decides.

The Health Minister, Edwin Poots, has announced another investigation

into the Fire Service after he received fresh allegations of

potential fraud and theft. Two damning reports into irregularities

at the service were published last month. Mr Poots said a number of

further allegations have been sent to him since then. He has asked a

senior civil servant to examine specific allegations. The BBC

understands that some of the allegations relate to the misuse of

training materials. A man has died after his bicycle

was in a collision with the car in Portadown. The woman driving the

car was treated for shock at the scene. Time is running out for

people to give their opinion on allowances aimed at encouraging

young people to stay at school or college. The Education Maintenance

Allowance is costing the Government �29 million a year. But proposed

changes would reduce the grants which are targeted at low income

families. As our Education correspondent, Maggie Taggart

reports, that's causing division. Weekly payments of up to �30 were

designed as an incentive for sixteen-year-old stented to leave

school as early as possible. A dip of almost 100,000 teenagers, a

quarter get the allowance. Even supporters of its figure could be

better targeted and there have been five proposals for cuts, such as

removing the smaller amounts, reducing the �30 payment or

reducing the allowance for families. Is the scheme value-for-money? Even

young people are divided. Out of the six, to get the payments. Some

would like them, and some think too much is wasted. I don't get it. Of

course I would like to get it. Regarding the system, I think it is

one that needs tweaked. For some it is extra money for alcohol. I don't

get it at the moment. I've looked love it -- I would love it. I pick

it is a great scheme for helping people same -- stay in education.

think it should be specifically for things that will help you to do

better in your education. For buying books, buying uniforms.

Martin got the grant, and what he spent some untroubled to school in

uniform, he doesn't it is it restricted. A lot of money did go

towards social night -- towards socialising. If it is going to be

an incentive, it has to be able to be spent on things that they want

to do. The consultation ends tomorrow, so there's still time to

have your say. Registration for competitors in the

World Police and Fire Games, which are being held in Northern Ireland

next year, opened today. The organisers say finding them all

somewhere to stay will be one of their biggest challenges. As our

business correspondent Kevin Magee reports, one solution being

examined is the use of pop-up hotels.

Big games are under starter's orders. Preparations like you at

the Mary Peters track are well under way. All told they are

expected to attract 25,000 international visitors here next

year. They will all be looking for somewhere to stay. With so many

extra visitors arriving, the organisers say the expected numbers

will exceed the current amount of tourist accommodation on offer. The

race is on to find them all bed. The influx will happen next August,

which has already one of the busiest times in the tourist

calendar when hotel occupancy rates traditionally sought. In Belfast

alone and August we were probably high 80s in 2012. There was not a

lot of headroom in there for an extra 25,000 visitors. Directing

pop up hotels is one option being discussed. In addition, student

landlords and places like the Holy Land in Belfast have been asked to

register with the tourist board. One landlord says the organisers

are cutting it fine. Some landlords would be unlikely to want to go

down that. It is too bureaucratic. It is getting close. Students will

be here to the end of June, July, then you have to transform its in-

between time. The executive is giving the lounger of the funding,

almost �7 million, towards the cost of hosting the Games. Could a

shortage of accommodation be a hurdle? A in terms of securing as

much of the existing accommodation capacity, and by using those

innovative ways to expand the accommodation, we believe we can

provide enough accommodation. teams are leaving nothing to chance.

They have been quick out of the blocks and have that their

Time now for the weather. There was a real taste of winter

today. Avril day of contrasts. It was a lovely start despite the

frost and ice. We had some nice pictures e-mail to us. But was soon

replaced with thick clouds and rain. There were reports of heel, sleek

and even since no, particularly over the higher ground. The Donegal

hills now have a covering of snow. Still some sharks around this

evening to contend with. They will ease back to the north coast. So,

fairly clear at times in eastern and southern counties. Because the

wind is going to strengthen, we could have some gale-force gusts on

the north coast. So, still quite called tonight, but not the frosty

start some of us have this morning. Because of the strong wind, it

won't be too long before the showers were back. Some early

sunshine for the East and South, but it will be short-lived. Spells

of rain will move in from the West. It will be called with gusty winds.

In the heavier bursts of rain, we may find heel and sleet. Possibly a

little bit of snow over the higher hills. Tim Butcher wise, similar to

today. Still quite windy, particularly along parts of the

Antrim coast. Eventually, the winds will start teas and as the do so

the showers start tick you are always out eastwards. If you're

heading to Ravenhill for the Rugby, it will be drive bike -- it will be

dry by kick-off time, but it will be cold. Tomorrow night will

generally be colder with temperatures dipping back down