Man who bought car used in murder of NI prison officer is found guilty of IRA membership

Vincent Banks, aged 47 and residing at Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has been convicted by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The conviction arose from proceedings relating to his purchase of a Toyota Camry that was subsequently employed in the fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012. Mr Black, a 52-year-old officer at Maghaberry prison, was killed in a drive-by shooting on the M1 motorway near Lurgan, County Armagh, whilst en route to work. The vehicle used in the incident was later discovered burnt out in a ditch near Carrigallen, County Leitrim, with firearm cartridges recovered from inside that connected to the killing. The three-judge panel, presided over by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy with judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, heard evidence that Banks had purchased the vehicle in a clandestine manner under an assumed name in October 2012. Forensic evidence presented to the court included Banks' fingerprint on the registration certificate and his fingerprints on an ordnance survey map of County Leitrim from which the relevant page had been removed. The court accepted evidence from Chief Superintendent Gerry Russell regarding Banks' membership of the organisation and noted that inferences could be drawn from Banks' failure to answer material questions during garda interviews. Banks had maintained his innocence throughout the trial, contesting the charge and denying knowledge of Mr Black or the vehicle. The court rejected these denials. Banks has no significant previous convictions. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 9 October 2017.