SF hit out at Ahern comments on bank robbery

Sinn Fein has hit out at claims by Irish Premier Bertie Ahern that republicans were aware of the Northern Bank robbery plans during intensive political talks in December.

In an RTE radio interview at the weekend, Mr Ahern said he was “upset” that Sinn Fein’s political leadership would have known a job was planned.

"I am upset, quite frankly, that in a period when we were in intense talks trying to get a comprehensive agreement, people in very senior positions would have known what was going on,” Mr Ahern said in the interview.

However, Sinn Fein Chairman Mitchel McLaughlin said he was “disappointed that the Taoiseach has chosen to believe the British and to jump onto the DUP bandwagon of blame”.

The party chairman said: "Many nationalists and republicans will be deeply disappointed that the Taoiseach has chosen to believe the British and to jump onto the DUP bandwagon of blame.

"That the Taoiseach should do this, after years of working closely with this party's leadership in the peace process, is a grave blow and will be an encouragement to all those, particularly in the DUP, who have consistently sought to attack and undermine the efforts for peace."

On Friday, PSNI Chief Constable, Hugh Orde said the IRA was behind last month's multi-million robbery at the headquarters of the Northern Bank in Belfast.

Mr Orde made his observation during a meeting with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Policing Board.

Speaking at news conference in Belfast following the meeting, Mr Orde said: "On the basis of the investigative work we have done to date, evidence we have collected and exhibits we have collected and bringing that all together and working through it, in my opinion the Provisional IRA were responsible for this crime and all main lines of inquiry currently undertaken are in that direction".

The Northern Bank confirmed it is to withdraw all of its paper note currency estimated to have a face value of around £300 million.

The move, which will cost the bank £5 million, will see all existing £10, £20, £50 and £100 notes replaced, however the bank's plastic polymer £5 notes will not be withdrawn.

The bank said it had reassessed the amount stolen from its head office on 20 December as £26.5 million. This amount includes some £4 million in used notes from other banks.

(MB/SP)