Dark days...

This morning David Black got up, got dressed and headed to work. While driving along the motorway a car with Dublin registration plates drove up beside him and fired a number of shots which left him seriously wounded. His car veered into a ditch.

He died at the scene.

The Grand Master of the Orange Order said earlier "David was a devoted and loyal member of Montober LOL 661 for approximately 30 years, as well as a fine prison officer. His professionalism throughout the worst of the Troubles and beyond is in stark contrast to the cowardly and faceless terrorists who today have left a wife without her husband and two children without their father.

Our thoughts and prayers are with David’s wife, Yvonne, his children Kyle and Kyra, and wider family circle at this deeply traumatic time. They can be assured that the Orange fraternity will rally around them in their hour of need."

David’s death brings to 337 the number of members of our Institution who have been murdered by terrorists since 1969. David’s crime like many of those before him was to wear the uniform of his country, serving the community as a member of the security forces. We owe it to him and all other murdered brethren that the perpetrators of this evil deed are brought to justice.