Dáil condemns David Black murder

The Dáil has strongly condemned the killing of prison warder David Black.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the House stood united in condemnation of the "callous murder"of Mr Black. He hoped, he said, that the perpetrators of the murder would be brought before the courts and that justice be done and seen to be done.

"We unreservedly condemn this," he added.

Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher said it was important to put on the record of the House its heartfelt sympathy with the Black family.

It was "a heinous, callous crime" and it behoved all members of the House to reject out of hand the flawed philosophy of violence and murder.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he had condemned the murder in the North as soon as it was known.

"The Deputy First Minister set out in very graphic tones...I think, not just the Sinn Féin position, or his own position, but the position of the vast majority of people on this island," he added.

Independent TD Shane Ross said the killing did not represent a return to the dark ages." It is a horrible reminder of things that happened here, maybe a decade or so ago," he added. "But there is nobody in this House who has any truck with that sort of activity."