CCTV footage links suspect with policeman's murder, court told

He was refused bail at Craigavon Magistrates' Court today after a district judge said he posed a serious risk of reoffending and had previous convictions for possession of firearms.

He was also accused by police of taking part in a republican show of strength at a funeral in Dublin.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland detective said: "The evidence is that there is CCTV showing Mr McLaughlin in a shop very close to the car making inquiries about a battery that would allow him to start the car because there was an issue with starting it.

"The Gardaí have evidence that Mr McLaughlin obtained assistance to start the car."

Dissident republicans claimed responsibility for killing father-of-two Mr Black as he drove to work at Maghaberry high-security prison, near Lisburn, Co Antrim.

Mr McLaughlin is allegedly linked by CCTV evidence and a registration plate trace by gardaí to a Toyota Camry moved north from the Republic a day before the killing. A car with the same registration mark and make was used in the high-speed shooting.

Detectives believe they know where and approximately when the vehicle was moved, police have claimed in court.

McLaughlin, from Kilmascally Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, appeared via video link from Maghaberry accused of obtaining the car at Carrigallen, Co Leitrim, and bringing it to the North.

His solicitor Peter Corrigan told Craigavon Magistrates' Court that security camera footage did not show his client close to the vehicle and there was no evidence that he started the car.

"There was CCTV in relation to the car being in the Clogher Valley but no evidence linking my client to that," he said.

"There is no evidence linking him to starting a vehicle, using a battery or, more importantly, driving a vehicle."