02/12/2005

Man arrested in connection with Northern Bank robbery

A man has been arrested by police in connection with last year's £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery in Belfast.

The 50-year-old, from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, was arrested on Friday under the Terrorism Act.

On Thursday, police were given another three days to question Northern Bank employee Chris Ward who was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the heist.

A 22-year-old woman who was also arrested on Tuesday was released without charge a day later.

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 in October 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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