"Trusted IRA member" jailed in connection with murder of NI prison officer

Vincent Banks, aged 49, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment following his conviction by the Special Criminal Court in July for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. The non-jury court heard that Banks purchased a Toyota Camry in a clandestine manner, which was subsequently used in the November 2012 murder of David Black, a Northern Irish prison officer shot whilst en route to Maghaberry prison. Evidence presented to the three-judge court included forensic links between Banks and the vehicle, including his fingerprint on the car's registration certificate, which he had signed under a false name. An ordnance survey map with the Leitrim page removed and bearing Banks' fingerprints was recovered from a friend's vehicle. Justice Isobel Kennedy noted Banks held a position of trust within the organisation. The sentence was backdated to April 16th 2016. Banks was previously acquitted in 2014 of withholding information related to Mr Black's death.