Car used in murder of David Black was purchased by accused man, court will hear

Vincent Banks, a Dublin man, has pleaded not guilty to withholding material information related to the November 2012 murder of David Black, a Northern Ireland prison officer. The case was heard at the Special Criminal Court, with the prosecution presenting evidence that a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting on the M1 motorway near Lurgan was purchased by the accused. Mr Black, aged 52 and employed at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim, was shot dead whilst driving to work on 1 November 2012. Following the incident, the vehicle was recovered burnt-out near the scene. The prosecution's case centres on forensic evidence linking Banks to the vehicle's registration and CCTV footage from a retailer in Tallaght. The court was informed that the Toyota Camry had been transported to Carrigallen, County Leitrim, and stored there before the murder took place. Banks, aged 44 of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, is charged with failing to disclose information between October and December 2012. The prosecution alleged he purchased the car under an assumed name, with a thumbprint discovered on the registration document. A vehicle dealer provided evidence that an individual identifying himself as Paul McCann acquired the car on 10 October 2012, shortly before the killing. The trial also heard evidence from gardaí who had been conducting surveillance operations into dissident and subversive activity. Detective officers monitored Banks meeting with associates and photographed him in their company in October 2012. A Carrigallen resident reported observing a matching vehicle parked near her home. Banks faces an additional charge of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, with the alleged membership dated to 18 December 2012. The trial proceeded before Justice Paul Butler, with proceedings spanning from February 2014 into 2017, ultimately reaching verdict before a three-judge panel.