PSNI faces strong criticism as bank heist charges are dropped

POLICE chiefs in the North were last night accused of running a flawed investigation into the £26.5 million (€39m) Northern Bank robbery after charges were dropped against two suspects.

A Democratic Unionist Assemblyman claimed public confidence in their ability to handle major cases was being destroyed.

Jim Wells delivered his scathing assessment of the inquiry following a dramatic court hearing where Dominic McEvoy, 23, a builder from Co Down, was told he would no longer have to stand trial for the December 2004 heist in Belfast, blamed on the IRA.