Bank heist detectives search hostage's home

Detectives hunting the gang behind the £22m (€31.3m) Northern Bank heist have carried out a search of the west Belfast home of one of the hostages.

The two families held captive by the raiders have spent Christmas away from their homes as they remain police crime scenes.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that detectives yesterday returned to the family home of 24-year-old Chris Ward in the Poleglass area.

She said: “A house at Colin Mill is still being held as a crime scene. A forensic examination has already been carried out and a police search was carried out today. There have been no arrests.”

On Christmas Eve, police removed several items from the Ward family home for forensic examination.

Mr Ward has been staying with relatives since last week’s robbery and has been unable to gain access to any of his personal possessions.

The second family, the McMullans from Loughinisland in Co Down, have also spent Christmas out of their home.

Meanwhile, police are still hunting for a handgun and ammunition which was stolen from a police Land Rover on Christmas Eve during searches of republican homes.

They were stolen from the vehicle in Cavendish Street off the Falls Road area of west Belfast.