Bank robbery accused for September trial

The trial of a man accused of the £26.5m (€33.5m) Northern Bank robbery is on course to start this September, a court heard today.

Chris Ward, aged 26, denies robbery and two charges of false imprisonment connected to the 2004 haul.

The bank official from Colinmill, Poleglass, Belfast, appeared before Belfast Crown Court judge Lord Justice Girvan today for a pre-trial hearing.

His barrister Neil Fox said the date for the trial was fixed for September 8 but added that he believed no judge had been appointed to hear it yet.

Ward, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, is to appear again on Friday.

He is accused of assaulting and imprisoning Kevin and Kyran (McMullan as well as the robbery.