Bank worker fails to secure release from PSNI custody

The Northern Bank employee being questioned in connection with last December's raid on the company's headquarters in Belfast has failed in an attempt to secure his release from police custody.

Chris Ward has been in custody since being arrested at his home in the Poleglass area of Belfast last Tuesday.

His lawyers challenged the legality of his detention today after the courts granted the PSNI a further 48 hours in which to question the 24-year-old.

The extension was the third secured by the PSNI over the past week and means Mr Ward is the first person in recent history to be held for questioning for more than seven days.

His lawyers argued this was unlawful, but the High Court rejected their application this morning and upheld the lower court's decision to extend Mr Ward's period in custody.