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More Northern Bank Raid Charges
Nearly one year on from the Northern Bank robbery, Chris Ward, a 24 year old from Poleglass, who was held for questioning by the police for over a week, has become the (one, two, three) fourth man to be charged in connection with the raid. He claimed from the outset that he was held hostage by the robbers and forced to take the money from the bank. He appeared in court today and is due to appear again via video link next month. One of his friends was also arrested this week in Australia in connection with the robbery.
I'm not sure what's been going on altogether but from what I understand the robbers have given up trying to spend a lot of the £26 million they stole because it would be too easily traceable. I just hope that the legal system can recoup as much of the rest of it as possible. I don't think it will have any real benefit to me, it's not like the government will have any extra money to spend because of it, but the idea of scumbags grabbing a life of luxury for doing nothing constructive makes me want to vomit.
Follow up:
While following this story I can't help thinking that Mr Ward, if he did plan the robbery, should have joined Sinn Fein first. That way instead of hearing about the investigation and what might have happened that night, we'd have Gerry, Martin and the Bhoys on the telly informing us that it was all just "political policing" because Hugh Orde was out to fling mud at the richest political party in Europe. However he's obviously learned at least a thing or two from the Sinners - Mr Ward not only maintains that he's innocent, he claims the PSNI are trying to frame him (surprise!). If they are they're certainly putting their backs into it, having searched the Casement Park social club where he works. If I was in the police I wouldn't fancy being involved in that search!
I've just had a hunt and found out that Gerry Adams has indeed been giving off about political policing - in general though, there's no specific mention of Mr Ward - just a chance for Gerry to waffle on about "misinformation from the PSNI" and have a dig at the SDLP. It's hardly surprising, Adams has been complaining about the PSNI doing their job from the moment the robbery happened.