Smith offers sympathies over Belfast bomb death

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Brendan Smith has expressed his sympathy following the news that the prison officer caught up in a car bomb attack in East Belfast earlier this month has died.

The man had been previously released after a device exploded under the van he was driving on March 4. Dissident republican group the New IRA claimed responsibility.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service said the man was Adrian Ismay, a father of three.

'I wish to express my condolences to the family and colleagues of the prison officer who died this morning,' said Deputy Smith. 'The attack, which led to his death is a stark reminder of the fragility of the peace process in Northern Ireland, and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

'This married father of three was a committed public servant who was senselessly targeted by a group determined to destabilise a process which had brought about an end to decades of violence across the North.

'The people who perpetrated this barbaric attack must be brought to justice. I am urging anyone who has information about this incident to contact their local PSNI station or to ring the Crimestoppers confidential line,' he said.