Murder charge dropped in IRA killing of jail guard

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Northern Ireland prosecutors say they have dropped murder charges against a man in connection with an Irish Republican Army killing of a prison officer.

Lawyers for 33-year-old Sean McVeigh announced Tuesday they will sue Northern Ireland’s police and prosecution office over his two months’ imprisonment awaiting trial.

McVeigh was arrested in February in the November 2012 killing of 52-year-old guard David Black, who was shot to death as he drove to work. An IRA faction opposed to Northern Ireland’s peace agreement claimed responsibility.

In April, a Belfast judge granted McVeigh bail after calling the evidence against him weak.

Police evidence included surveillance TV footage of McVeigh walking near the attackers’ car before the shooting, and records of him purchasing household equipment the day before that might have been used in the attack.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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