Two men suspected of being involved in the £26 million (€38 million) Northern Bank armed robbery two years ago had the charges against them dropped in court yesterday.
Dominic McEvoy, a 23-year-old builder from Mullandra Park, Kilcoo, Co Down, was not in the Magistrates Court in Belfast as he had previously been excused attendance at remand hearings.
A second charge against Mr McEvoy of falsely imprisoning bank official Kevin McMullan and his wife, Karen, at their home at Loughinisland, Co Down, was also dropped.
A lawyer for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), said a full file had been received from the police and all the evidence in it had been carefully studied.
He said the DPP had concluded that the test for a prosecution had not been made and he asked for the charges to be withdrawn.
Charges were also dropped against Martin McAliskey (40), a salesman, Ballybeg Road, Coalisland, Co Tyrone, who had been accused of withholding information and attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to a white Ford Transit van alleged to have been used in the record-breaking heist at the bank's headquarters at Donegal Square, Belfast, on December 20th, 2004.
A third accused, Northern Bank official Christopher Ward (25), Colinmill, Poleglass, west Belfast, was remanded on continuing bail until January 31st.
The PPS lawyer said preliminary inquiry papers in respect of Mr Ward were being prepared in draft form and he asked for a further remand.
Mr McEvoy's solicitor, Nial Murphy, said while the withdrawal of charges was welcome it was long overdue.
He said his client had spent a month in jail before being granted bail.
"That application was opposed by the Crown and if it had been successful McEvoy would have spent 14 months in custody for practically nothing."
Resident Magistrate Philip Mateer said: "The court having been informed that the evidence has been carefully examined and the decision is not to proceed, I will allow the matter to be dropped."
Lawyers for Mr Ward asked that the next remand should not take place until committal papers were served on the defence.
But Mr Mateer granted a remand until January 31st.
"Hopefully there will be some indication then as to when a preliminary inquiry date can be finalised."
After the court hearing, the PSNI chief constable, Hugh Orde, said: "These cases are extremely complicated.
"The robbery itself was carried out by a competent group of criminals . . . This was a particularly brutal crime, people were extremely badly treated and assaulted by the gang. Today is a setback, it would be fair to say."
But the chief constable stressed one of those charged by his officers is still due to stand trial, and he pledged to press ahead with the inquiry.
With some of the stolen notes having later turned up in the Republic, Sir Hugh also confirmed he has held recent talks with Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy.
"Their case is continuing," he told BBC Radio Ulster. "This one still has a very large number of detectives on it."