Northern Bank accused made late change to staff rota, trial hears

THE bank official charged with the £26.5 million (€33m) Northern Bank robbery made last-minute changes to the rota of staff who had a key to the vault to put himself on duty that day.

Christopher Ward, aged 26, went on trial yesterday at Belfast Crown Court charged with the robbery in December 2004. He also faces two charges of falsely imprisoning a fellow keyholder and his wife. Ward, of Colinmill, Poleglass, Belfast, denies all charges.

Opening the prosecution case, Gordon Kerr said the robbery was an organised crime by a gang with good inside knowledge.