Employee ‘manipulated rota’ to facilitate Northern Bank heist

AN employee accused of the £26.5 million (€39.15m) Northern Bank robbery allegedly manipulated a work rota so the raid could be carried out, a court heard yesterday.

Chris Ward, 24, one of two staff members taken hostage during the heist last December, denied the charge when he appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court.

Detective Inspector Sean Wright told the court the case against him was based on circumstantial evidence collected as a result of surveillance.