DNA obtained from a money bag seized by gardaí is “a thousand million times” more likely to have come from a Cork man accused of IRA membership than an unknown source, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

A Garda Chief Superintendent told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today that he believed he was "on the trail" of money stolen in the Northern Bank robbery in Belfast in 2004 when he launched an investigation into a Cork man accused of IRA membership.

Two Sinn Féin members were released on bail today after being charged with membership of the IRA as part of the investigation into the £26.5m Northern Bank robbery.

Two Cork men arrested as part of the garda investigation into the Northern Bank raid in Belfast in which £26.5m (€29.4m) was stolen in December 2004 were charged with IRA membership at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

A Cork financial adviser who laundered cash from the notorious Northern Bank robbery will be sentenced today.

THE key statement from Ted Cunningham came at the Bridewell Garda Station on the second day he was in custody when he was described as blurting out: “Phil Flynn is the boss behind everything” and confirming the money was from the Northern Bank robbery.

A Cork financial adviser was facing up to 14 years in jail tonight for laundering cash from the £26.5m (€28.4m) Northern Bank robbery.

A Cork financial adviser who was found guilty today of laundering cash from the £26.5m (€28.5m) Northern Bank robbery was remanded in custody pending sentencing on April 24.

A Cork car dealer who was given £200,000 in 2005 by the man accused of money-laundering testified today that Ted Cunningham told him at one stage: “Get rid of it”, so he hid what was left of it in a fertiliser bag in a stable.

THE man accused of laundering over £3 million from the Northern Bank robbery claimed that the gardaí wanted him to “nail” Phil Flynn, the former chairman of Bank of Scotland (Ireland), and that if he didn’t they would turn his family into the McBreartys of Donegal.

The man accused of laundering over £3m from the Northern Bank robbery claimed today that the gardaí wanted him to "nail" Phil Flynn – former chairman of Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and that if didn’t they would turn his family into the McBreartys of Donegal.

A financial adviser was freed on bail tonight after being charged over an alleged IRA money laundering ring set up after the notorious £26.5m (€34bn) Northern Bank robbery.

Two men are to appear in court today following a three-year investigation into alleged IRA money laundering.

A Co Cork chef arrested as part of a garda investigation into IRA money laundering had his bail conditions varied by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today to allow him to visit his parents.

A Co Cork chef arrested as part of a garda investigation into IRA money-laundering walked free on bail from the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

GARDAÍ yesterday said it could take months before files are sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to people arrested as part of the money-laundering investigation.

Forensic officers are carrying out tests on money found in Dublin and Belfast today to see if it is linked to the Northern Bank robbery last month.

MILLIONS more in laundered IRA cash will be uncovered in an investigation that could last at least six months, garda sources said last night.

TOM HANLON secured a 14% share of first preferences and the second seat on Passage West town council with his 243 votes in the 1999 local elections.

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams was last night standing by his party's view that the IRA was innocent of the Northern Bank raid.

DON BULLMAN, the Cork chef charged yesterday with membership of the IRA, worked in the same pub where Sinn Féin activist Tom Hanlon worked as a part-time bouncer.

A trusted associate of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is involved with a company at the centre of a major IRA money laundering probe, it emerged today.

DELEGATES from the 80 trout fly angling clubs affiliated to Munster Regional Trout Angling Council (MRTAC) travelled to the Mallow Park Hotel, on Sunday last to attend its 73rd AGM.