Ms Pauline McCabe:

The event was devastating on every front. While it was a tragedy for the prison service, Mr. Black's family was the most devastated. Terrible hurt has been caused among many families and there is no escaping that. At a time when people are working so hard to try to move forward constructively and change the culture - I am not referring to the personal tragedy - the activity to which the Senator alluded has not helped in any way. A great many prisoners from right across the spectrum who knew Officer Black spoke very highly of him. Prisoners and the authorities were equally saddened by his death. In a funny way, there was quite a lot of bonding as a result of what occurred because people were united in condemning the murder.