Tuesday 15 March 2016

It's believed the 52-year-old who suffered leg wounds in the blast suffered a heart attack this morning.
17:42, UK,Tuesday 15 March 2016
Adrian Ismay
A prison officer who was injured by a bomb blast in Belfast on 4 March has died in hospital.
Adrian Ismay suffered leg wounds after the device detonated under his prison van as he set off for work.
The attack happened in the Hillsborough Drive area and also forced the evacuation of houses and a massive police search.
The married father-of-three was released from hospital a week ago and police had said his injuries had not been as serious as first thought.
EAST BELFAST VAN BOMB
Sky News' Ireland Correspondent David Blevins said it's believed he suffered a heart attack this morning: "There's an enormous sense of shock at the news and it will now be up to the coroner to ascertain the extent of any link between the explosion and what has now happened to him.
"But Unionist politicians have no doubt about the link, they are already claiming that Republicans have again decided who should live and who should die."
The Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, has expressed his deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Ismay.
"I have said repeatedly that such attacks can have no place in a civilised, inclusive society and we must continue to work at all levels to copperfasten a future for Northern Ireland that is committed to the democratic process and the rule of law and is free from violence and intimidation," Mr Kenny said.
Mr Ismay was a long-serving officer based at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in south Belfast, who worked as a trainer for new recruits to the Northern Ireland Prison Service. 
Justice Minister David Ford and Prison Service director-general Sue McAllister have paid tribute: "Adrian Ismay gave over 28 years of service to prisons in Northern Ireland and he was greatly respected by all those who knew him.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues."
First Minister Arlene Foster has tweeted that she is devastated and her thoughts are with his family.
A dissident Republican group referred to as the New IRA claimed to have carried out the bomb attack.
Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney said: "First and foremost I want to express my sympathies to the family and friends of prison officer Adian Ismay. 
"This attack was wrong, it will achieve nothing and was condemned by all sections of society."
Ulster Unionist Party MLA Andy Allen said his sympathies are with the prison officer's family. 
"The people responsible for this despicable attack must be brought to justice. They cannot and will not be allowed to take this society back to the past."
A 45-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder in connection to the bomb attack. 
With the centenary of the Easter Rising approaching later this month, senior police officers are concerned that dissidents opposed to the peace process may attempt to hijack the anniversary by launching another attack.

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