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A Tyrone man who skipped bail over charges relating to the IRA killing of prison officer David Black was today arrested by Gardai in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

Damien McLaughlin, from Ardboe, will appear at Dublin's High Court in the morning.

McLaughlin went missing last November, prompting claims by DUP peer Morrow that he had possibly been ‘disappeared’ by the IRA.

The 40-year-old has been facing trial on charges linked to the M1 drive-by murder of Mr Black, who was shot by terrorists as he drove to work in Maghaberry Prison in 2012.

The charges against McLaughlin include aiding and abetting the murder, possessing items to be used in terrorism and belonging to an illegal organisation.

Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray, from PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, said: “Since his disappearance Police have carried out extensive enquiries regarding Mr McLaughlin’s whereabouts. Throughout this time the PSNI has been liaising closely with An Garda Siochana and today’s arrests demonstrate the benefits of joint working between police forces and other national partner agencies.



“As part of the operation a 59-year-old man was also arrested in Donegal and a 47-year-old woman was arrested in Belfast. Damien McLaughlin is scheduled to appear at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court tomorrow. The 59-year-old man has been taken to Letterkenny police station for questioning and a 47-year-old woman has since been released on police bail.”

In January a Belfast court heard McLaughlin had not been seen by police since November 2016, having been granted bail in May 2014. He was due in court last month.

Following McLaughlin’s failure to attend a court appearance Lord Morrow revealed he had written to the-then Stormont Justice Minister Claire Sugden, and the PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton, the Law Society and The Bar Council, and claimed the authorities had ‘grossly mishandled’ the case.

He said: "Overall, this matter was grossly mishandled by the PSNI who should have jumped at the first indication of a breach in bail terms.

“This is, after all, a terrorism case in which Mr Black was murdered whilst on his way to work.

"As the only person to date charged in connection to that murder, PSNI should have been ultra-alert to the necessity of ensuring McLaughlin faced the courts.

"There was far too much laxity afforded in this instance by police and that has severely impacted upon the overall case of the brutal murder of Mr Black, and his family who, whilst consumed with grief, are failed in such a dramatic manner by authorities.

"This whole incident requires a thorough investigation into all facets involved in what is, without doubt, a deplorable situation, including police, judiciary, and legal representatives and their governing bodies."

Lord Morrow also hit out at Sinn Fein over the affair, saying, "I remain disgusted as to Sinn Fein's conspicuous silence on this matter, their stance almost without precedent and in stark contrast to their condemnation of other similar instances."