US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has added her voice to the numerous messages of condemnation of the murder of prison officer David Black.
Mr Black (52), a married father of two, was gunned down in a suspected dissident republican ambush on the MI near Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Thursday morning.
In a statement at the weekend Mrs Clinton described the killing as senseless.
“There is no justification for this outrageous and cowardly act. I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Black, who had a long and distinguished record of service.
“The United States remains resolute in support of the people of Northern Ireland, who have condemned violence and embraced the path to peace and reconciliation,” Ms Clinton added.
Mr Black’s funeral will take place tomorrow in his home town of Cookstown, Co Tyrone. The service will be held at 1pm in Molesworth Presbyterian Church followed by burial in Kildress parish churchyard.
Last night three people were still being held in custody in connection with the murder, including leading dissident Lurgan republican Colin Duffy.
Two of the men were arrested in Northern Ireland and are being questioned by the PSNI while the third man was arrested in Co Leitrim.
