A 40-YEAR-OLD man missing for months on charges linked to the murder of prison officer David Black was in Garda custody on Thursday night after being arrested in Co Donegal.
Damien McLaughlin, from outside Ardboe in Co Tyrone, was due to stand trial last month on charges including aiding and abetting Mr Black's killing.
However, it emerged in December that he had not been seen by police for weeks and was no longer living at his bail address in west Belfast.
His disappearance sparked angry criticism of police by unionists and Mr Black's family.
Thursday's arrest followed a joint intelligence-led operation by gardaí and the PSNI.
Mr McLaughlin was arrested by gardaí at undisclosed location in Co Donegal under a European Arrest Warrant.
He is to appear before the High Court in Dublin on Friday morning and is likely to face attempts to extradite him back to the north.
A second man, aged 59, was also arrested in Co Donegal and was taken to Letterkenny Garda station for questioning.
As part of the same operation, the PSNI arrested a 47-year-old woman in west Belfast on Thursday. She was taken to Musgrave police station in Belfast for questioning.
Mr Black (52), from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, was shot dead by dissident republicans as he drove along the M1 on his way to work at Maghaberry Prison in November 2012.
Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray said police had carried out "extensive enquiries" since Mr McLaughlin went missing.
"Throughout this time the PSNI has been liaising closely with An Garda Siochana and today's arrests demonstrate the benefits of joint working between police forces and other national partner agencies," he said.
He said Mr Black's family, including his widow Yvonne, are aware of Mr McLaughlin's arrest.
"Detectives involved in the case spoke with Mrs Black to inform her of Damien McLaughlin's arrest," he said.
Chief Constable George Hamilton told the Policing Board last month that bail checks were not carried out on Mr McLaughlin due to a broken buzzer at his block of flats and a combination of computer issues and human error.
The Police Ombudsman has begun an investigation to establish whether there were any failings in police conduct or systems in the management of Mr McLaughlin's bail conditions.
The 40-year-old, from Kilmascally Road near Ardboe, had initially been fitted with an electronic tag while on bail but was permitted by a court to remove it in December 2014 despite strong police objections.
Following news that he had gone missing, Mr Black's family had said they felt betrayed by the criminal justice system.
