Dublin and Belfast officials to weigh up response to killing of David Black, shot dead as he was travelling to work
Irish ministers and their counterparts in Northern Ireland are to discus a response to the murder of a prison officer along the M1 motorway.
The killing of David Black will be top of the agenda at the north-south ministerial council in Armagh, which is only a few miles from the scene of Thursday's terror attack by republican dissidents.
Gunmen travelling in a stolen car fired upon the 52-year-old's Audi car near a junction leading to Portadown, as he was on his way to work at Maghaberry top security prison.
The father of two was the first prison officer to die at the hands of paramilitaries since 1993 and his death has sparked fears of retaliation.
However, his family appealed for no more violence in a statement issued through a clergyman in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, where the Black family live.
Meanwhile, the head of the Northern Ireland prison service, Sue McAllister, had to fend off allegations on a television station on Thursday night that personal protection weapons for prison officers were being taken away from them.
"I have checked and to my knowledge no prison officer has been told that his or her personal protection weapon is to be withdrawn," she said.
"I will certainly be making sure that any prison officer who wishes to have a personal protection weapon will be able to apply to the police service as per our procedures."