A CO Tyrone man is to stand trial next year charged over his alleged involvement in the dissident republican murder of prison officer David Black.
At Belfast Crown Court on Friday, Damien Joseph McLaughlin (40), of Kilmascally Road, Dungannon, denied four charges he faces over the murder of Mr Black.
Mr Black, a father-of-two, was driving from his home in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, to Maghaberry prison when he was ambushed on the M1 motorway in Co Armagh by republican gunmen on November 1, 2012.
A group calling itself the 'New IRA' later claimed responsibility for the murder of the 52-year-old prison officer.
McLaughlin pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting Mr Black's murder, having a Toyota Camry car for use in terrorism, preparing a terrorist act by starting and moving the vehicle which the killers used, and belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA.
McLaughlin's defence barrister Desmond Hutton said he was expecting to engage the services of an expert witness to deal with the "interview techniques adopted by An Garda Siochana'' in the case.
Prosecuting counsel Terence Mooney QC said witnesses from the Republic were "reluctant to travel to Northern Ireland'' to give evidence at the trial.
The court was told that there was a legal precedent for taking evidence by commission from such witnesses.
Mr Justice Treacy listed the trial to start on Monday, February 20, 2017.
The case will be reviewed again in four weeks time.
McLaughlin was released on continuing bail ahead of the start of his trial which is expected to last six weeks.
