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Man Accused of Involvement in Bank Robbery Walks Free

Fri, 10 Oct 2008

A man accused of helping to arrange one of Europe’s biggest ever robberies has walked free from court after the case against him collapsed yesterday. Chris Ward was found not guilty of being involved in a robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast in 2004. The thieves stole a total of £26 million, with the prosecution alleging that the 26 year old – an employee at the bank’s Belfast headquarters – had manipulated staff rotas to ensure he was on duty on the night of the robbery.

However, the prosecution’s case fell apart from a key element of their case didn’t stand up. Gordon Kerr QC, acting on behalf of the prosecution, yesterday announced, ‘Having considered the remaining evidence and the advice of counsel it has been concluded that it would not be proper to make further submissions’. Mr Ward’s solicitor demanded an official apology from the police – already laden with embarrassment following the sensational collapse of their case.

In the wake of the robbery, both the British and Irish government suggested the IRA were behind the robbery, though Sinn Fein denies these claims. Millions of pounds were reclaimed north and south of the border, whilst much of the stolen money was rendered useless as the bank quickly moved to print new notes following the robbery.
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