Dublin man bought car used in murder of NI Prison Officer

A Dublin man convicted of IRA membership will be sentenced later this month at the Special Criminal Court. Vincent Banks, aged 49, of Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, was found guilty in July of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The conviction relates to his role in purchasing a Toyota Camry that was subsequently used in the fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black in November 2012. During sentencing proceedings, detectives outlined how Banks had acquired the vehicle under a false name and how forensic evidence, including fingerprints on a car registration certificate and an ordnance survey map of County Leitrim, connected him to the car. The map had a page displaying County Leitrim torn out. Banks' fingerprints were also found on the document. The court heard Banks has no significant previous convictions. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 23rd October.