:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/EGBWM7ISJ5JKOPMMPFG6GQBDVA.jpg)
Police investigating the murder one year ago of a prison officer in Co Armagh have appealed for information about the Dublin registered car used in the shooting.
David Black (52), a father of two, was shot dead as he drove along the M1 from his home in Cookstown, Co Tyrone to Maghaberry prison just outside Lisburn, Co Antrim.
The car containing the killers drove alongside Mr Black between junction 11 (Portadown) and junction 10 (Lurgan) and opened fire.
A number of men were seen running from the burning car in the Inglewood area of Lurgan at about 7:50am, some 20 minutes after the murder.
He was the first prison officer to be murdered in nearly 20 years. A dissident republican group calling itself “the IRA” said it was responsible for the killing. Around 40 dissident prisoners were held in Maghaberry at the time of the murder. There are in dispute with the prison authorities and are seeking political status.
Making the appeal on the first anniversary of his death, detectives are seeking fresh information on the dark blue Toyota Camry car, registration 94D50997, used by the killers.
Det Chief Insp Richard Harkness said: “The dark blue Toyota Camry was in Lurgan prior to the shooting on the evening of 31st October and was set on fire about 20 minutes after David’s murder a few miles from the M1 at Inglewood on the morning of November 1st.
He added: “A number of men were seen running away from the car. I would appeal to anyone who can help us with this specific inquiry, or who knows anything about David’s murder, to come forward.
“I would also appeal to people in Cookstown to think about what they saw in the days and weeks before David’s murder. Did you see any unusual activity around David’s home or the places he frequented? If you have any information, please contact us.”
A reward of £10,000 (€11,800) is offered for any new information leading to apprehension of the killers.
“I would also appeal to people in Cookstown to think about what they saw in the days and weeks before David’s murder,” added Det Chief Insp Harkness.
“Today is a particularly difficult day for David’s wife Yvonne and their children Kyle and Kyra. They have endured a degree of suffering and loss over the past year which most of us cannot imagine.”