30/11/2005

Police continue to question bank staff over £26.5m heist

Police are still questioning two Northern Bank employees in connection with last year's £26.5 million heist in Belfast.

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that a 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were arrested on Tuesday morning in connection with the heist.

It is understood that one of those arrested had described on television shortly after the robbery how he was held captive in the run-up to the raid.

Of the 10 people questioned to date in connection with the robbery, three have appeared in court.

Martin McAliskey, 42, Peter Kelly, 30, and Dominic McEvoy, 23, all appeared in court last month charged in connection with the heist.

The robbery of the Northern Bank headquarters in Belfast on December 20th, was blamed on the IRA, however, the republican group denied these accusations as did Sinn Fein.

While a quantity of money seized by Garda in Cork has been linked with the bank raid, virtually all the money remains unaccounted for and the Northern Bank has issued new notes as a result of the robbery.

(MB/SP)

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