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Damien McLaughlin to seek bail again

Damien McLaughlin leaves Laganside Court in Belfast after an earlier hearing
Damien McLaughlin leaves Laganside Court in Belfast after an earlier hearing Damien McLaughlin leaves Laganside Court in Belfast after an earlier hearing

A suspected dissident republican wanted over the murder of prison officer David Black is to make a fresh bid for freedom, a court has heard.

Damien McLaughlin(40), of Kilmascally Road near Ardboe, absconded from his bail address in west Belfast last November and went on the run.

The PSNI later admitted that it only became aware of his disappearance when officers called at his bail address the following month and discovered the house empty of furniture and found milk in the fridge was several weeks old.

A manhunt was launched for McLaughlin on both sides of the border and police eventually secured a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for him to be arrested on sight.

He was arrested by an armed Gardai response unit on March 2 this year while walking along the street in Ramelton, Co Donegal, en route to Letterkenny

McLaughlin was later taken to Dublin where he appeared before the Central Criminal Court on foot of the EAW and was remanded in custody.

Murdered prison officer David Black
Murdered prison officer David Black Murdered prison officer David Black

He is due to stand trial later this year accused of aiding and abetting in the murder of David Black in November 2012, possessing articles in connection with terrorism, preparation of acts of terrorism and belonging to a proscribed organisation.

During a review of the case today at Belfast Crown Court, a prosecution lawyer told Mr Justice Treacy: "This is the accused who absconded while on bail and was subsequently arrested in the Republic of Ireland.

"He is currently in custody pending extradition from the Republic to this jurisdiction on these charges.

"His case is listed for a court in Dublin on May 15 and he intends to make a bail application on that date and that is a matter for the authorities there.''

He added that the crown had no response yet from the authorities in the Republic on a possible hearing date for the extradition proceedings.

Mr Justice Treacy agreed to list the case for mention again on Friday June 30.

McLaughlin's disappearance only came to light in January this year at the same court when a prosecution lawyer asked for his bail to be revoked after he could not be found at his bail address in west Belfast.

The lawyer told Mr Justice Treacy that Mr McLaughlin failed to sign with police in November.

McLaughlin's disappearance while on bail provoked a public outcry from David Black's family who said they "felt let down and hurt by the justice system''.

The failure by the PSNI to carry out regular bail checks on McLaughlin is currently the subject of a Police Ombudsman investigation.