Northern Ireland

Serial child murderer Robert Black dies in Maghaberry prison

 Robert Black at his trial in 2011
 Robert Black at his trial in 2011  Robert Black at his trial in 2011

SERIAL child killer Robert Black who murdered nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy near her home in Ballinderry over three decades ago, has died in Maghaberry jail.

A NI Prison Service spokeswoman said: "The Prison Service has confirmed that a 68-year-old prisoner has died at Maghaberry Prison.

"While this is not being treated as suspicious, the Prison Service has informed the PSNI, Coroner, and Prisoner Ombudsman. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."

Jennifer was snatched by Black as she cycled to a friend's house in 1981.

He dumped her body in water close to the main Belfast-Dublin road near Hillsborough, Co Antrim, before catching a ferry to his home in Scotland.

Black had been in Northern Ireland working as a delivery driver for a London-based poster company.

He was charged with Jennifer's murder in 2009 and convicted in December 2011 of her killing.

Black had a history of abucting and murdering young girls.

After being caught in 1990, Black was subsequently convicted of three murders.

Among his other victims were Sarah Harper, (10), from England and 11-year-old Susan Maxwell and five-year-old Caroline Hogg both from Scotland.

At the time of Black's conviction in 2011, Jennifer's parents, Andy and Pat, said they were satisfied that he would spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Mr Cardy said his family's faith in God sustained them, adding: "It has been an emotional couple of hours. It has been a long, long journey. It has been 30 years of a journey."

Of the sentence, he said: "We are very, very pleased. We think that justice has been done. We don't think Robert Black will ever be out of jail again to assault wee girls. He will never be able to torture little girls."

Mrs Cardy, who also has two sons - Philip and Mark - and a daughter, Victoria, said: "There is absolutely no bitterness."