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09/10/2008
Northern Bank Trial Collapses
A man has been cleared of involvement in the 2004 Northern Bank raid, after the trial sensationally collapsed at Belfast Crown Court earlier today.
Twenty-six year old Christopher Ward, from the west of the city, was accused of robbing £26.5 million from the bank's headquarters in Belfast.
Mr Ward also stood trial for falsely imprisoning a work colleague, while the official's wife was taken hostage.
Mr Ward denied the charges.
The trial at Belfast Crown Court began on 9 September.
Today, the presiding judge said: "Given the decision to present no further evidence, I could not arrive at any other verdict."
Prosecution counsel Gordon Kerr QC said the case had been brought before the court based on circumstantial evidence.
"An essential strand related to the circumstances in which the defendant came to be on the rota of the late shift of the Northern Bank on the day of the robbery.
"(It was) fundamental in the case to the prosecution inviting the court to draw inference from other parts of the case."
On December 19, 2004 armed men took over the homes of two Northern Bank employees, Chris Ward in Belfast and Kevin McMullen in County Down.
Both men were told to go to work the following day as normal or their families would be killed.
The key element of the prosecution's evidence was that Mr Ward had allegedly made a last-minute change to the work rota, to ensure he was on duty to facilitate the heist.
Dubbed as one of the biggest bank robberies in recent time, condemnation and blame was squarely pointed at the Provisional IRA by Northern Ireland's top cop and both the British and Irish governments.
However, Sinn Fein denied republican involvement.
Major political ructions were felt in the aftermath of the robbery, with Unionists calling for Republicans to co-operate with the police investigation.
(PR/JM)
Twenty-six year old Christopher Ward, from the west of the city, was accused of robbing £26.5 million from the bank's headquarters in Belfast.
Mr Ward also stood trial for falsely imprisoning a work colleague, while the official's wife was taken hostage.
Mr Ward denied the charges.
The trial at Belfast Crown Court began on 9 September.
Today, the presiding judge said: "Given the decision to present no further evidence, I could not arrive at any other verdict."
Prosecution counsel Gordon Kerr QC said the case had been brought before the court based on circumstantial evidence.
"An essential strand related to the circumstances in which the defendant came to be on the rota of the late shift of the Northern Bank on the day of the robbery.
"(It was) fundamental in the case to the prosecution inviting the court to draw inference from other parts of the case."
On December 19, 2004 armed men took over the homes of two Northern Bank employees, Chris Ward in Belfast and Kevin McMullen in County Down.
Both men were told to go to work the following day as normal or their families would be killed.
The key element of the prosecution's evidence was that Mr Ward had allegedly made a last-minute change to the work rota, to ensure he was on duty to facilitate the heist.
Dubbed as one of the biggest bank robberies in recent time, condemnation and blame was squarely pointed at the Provisional IRA by Northern Ireland's top cop and both the British and Irish governments.
However, Sinn Fein denied republican involvement.
Major political ructions were felt in the aftermath of the robbery, with Unionists calling for Republicans to co-operate with the police investigation.
(PR/JM)
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03 January 2007
Bank robbery charges dropped
The County Down man accused of the £26 million Northern Bank robbery in 2004, has had the charges against him dropped. Dominic McEvoy, 23, a builder from Mullandra Park in Kilcoo, was not present in Belfast Magistrates Court during the hearing.
Bank robbery charges dropped
The County Down man accused of the £26 million Northern Bank robbery in 2004, has had the charges against him dropped. Dominic McEvoy, 23, a builder from Mullandra Park in Kilcoo, was not present in Belfast Magistrates Court during the hearing.
15 January 2009
Cork Father And Son Deny Northern Bank Involvement
A father and son from Cork have denied laundering money taken during the Northern Bank robbery five years ago. Timothy 'Ted' Cunningham, 60, and Timothy John Cunningham, 33, pleaded not guilty to 24 charges of 'laundering' sums of over £3 million.
Cork Father And Son Deny Northern Bank Involvement
A father and son from Cork have denied laundering money taken during the Northern Bank robbery five years ago. Timothy 'Ted' Cunningham, 60, and Timothy John Cunningham, 33, pleaded not guilty to 24 charges of 'laundering' sums of over £3 million.
06 December 2005
Lawyers fail in bid to get bank worker released
Lawyers representing a Northern Bank worker arrested by police in connection with last year's £26.5 million heist have failed in a bid to have him released. Chris Ward, 24, was arrested on November 29 in connection with the incident, and on Monday police were given another 48 hours to question him. But in an emergency hearing at 1.
Lawyers fail in bid to get bank worker released
Lawyers representing a Northern Bank worker arrested by police in connection with last year's £26.5 million heist have failed in a bid to have him released. Chris Ward, 24, was arrested on November 29 in connection with the incident, and on Monday police were given another 48 hours to question him. But in an emergency hearing at 1.
25 June 2013
New NI Bank Notes In Circulation
New bank notes have been released into circulation in Northern Ireland. The £10 and £20 notes are being issued from Danske Bank and will gradually replace the existing Northern Bank notes. The design of the notes remains the same, the only difference is the Danske Bank logo has replaced the Northern Bank logo.
New NI Bank Notes In Circulation
New bank notes have been released into circulation in Northern Ireland. The £10 and £20 notes are being issued from Danske Bank and will gradually replace the existing Northern Bank notes. The design of the notes remains the same, the only difference is the Danske Bank logo has replaced the Northern Bank logo.
07 January 2005
Consequences ‘dire and grim’ says Robinson
The consequences for Sinn Féin will be “dire and grim” if Chief Constable Hugh Orde confirms IRA involvement in the £22 million Northern Bank robbery last month, said DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson.
Consequences ‘dire and grim’ says Robinson
The consequences for Sinn Féin will be “dire and grim” if Chief Constable Hugh Orde confirms IRA involvement in the £22 million Northern Bank robbery last month, said DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson.
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