Convicted child killer Robert Black, who was found guilty of murdering four children across the UK, has died in prison at the age of 68. The Northern Ireland Prison Service confirmed that Black died of natural causes at Maghaberry prison in County Antrim.
Black's victims were Jennifer Cardy, nine, from County Antrim; Susan Maxwell, 11, from Northumberland; Caroline Hogg, five, from Edinburgh; and Sarah Harper, ten, from Leeds. He abducted, abused and murdered them between 1981 and 1986.
Black, originally from Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, had a long history of sexual offending against young girls. He was first convicted of indecent assault at age 19. His job as a delivery driver allowed him to travel widely across the UK, which he used to target his victims.
He was arrested in 1990 after police stopped his van and found a six-year-old girl bound and gagged inside. This led to his conviction in 1994 for the murders of Susan, Caroline and Sarah. In 2011, he was also found guilty of Jennifer's murder.
Reacting to his death, Jennifer's mother Pat Cardy said her family had "mixed feelings" and no pleasure in his passing. Jennifer's brother Phillip Cardy said he did not hate Black but emphasised that victims should be remembered more than the murderer.
