Ahern: Sinn Féin knew IRA was planning robbery

Sinn Féin leaders knew the IRA was planning Britain’s biggest ever bank robbery while they were negotiating a peace deal with the British and Irish governments, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern claimed today.

Mr Ahern said he had consulted with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and had no reason to doubt Chief Constable Hugh Orde’s assessment that the IRA was responsible for the £26.5m (€38m) Northern Bank raid.