Statements by the family of Northern Bank clerk Christopher Ward accused of being behind the £26.5 million (€33 million) robbery in December 2004 were read to Belfast Crown Court today detailing how they were held hostage for a 24-hour period while the robbery was taking place.
Mr Ward (26) was an bank employee when it’s headquarters at Donegall Square in Belfast was targeted on December 20, 2004.
Statements made by Mr Ward’s mother Rose and his brother Gerard in the aftermath of the robbery were read to Mr Justice McLaughlin at Belfast Crown Court.
Both Rose and Gerard Ward told police they were forced to stay in their Colinglen home in the Poleglass area of west Belfast for a 24-hour period after three men dressed in dark clothing, baseball bats and who covered their faces with gloved hands called at their home on the evening of December 19, 2004.
Rose and Gerard Ward told police Chris was ordered to bring a bag before leaving with one of the men. Mrs Ward said that as they were leaving, one of the men said “we are taking your son, you son will be doing a job for us tomorrow and if it goes smoothly, you will be okay.”
She said the men also told the family “if you and your son co-operate, you will be fine.”
Rose and Gerard Ward both said that as Chris was taken away with one of the men, the other two remained with the family from Sunday evening to around 10.15pm on Monday December 20.
During their 24 hours held in the house, Ward’s mother and brother said they were watched at all times by both men. Gerard told police that while the men said they were armed, he didn’t see any weapons.
The Ward family were forced to hand over all mobile and house phones and were ordered to stay away from the windows and co-operate as Chris’s life was at stake.
They told police that throughout the 24-hour period, the two men constantly cleaned the house.
Rose and Gerard Ward said Chris returned home at around 8.45pm on December 20 with his boss Kevin McMullan who was extremely concerned about his wife Kyran.
Gerard told police “Christopher and Kevin told us the bank had been robbed and money had been stolen.”
He also said that as the men left the house at around 10.15pm, they told Chris not to contact the PSNI until 11pm.
Before they left, the two men told the Ward family “thank you for your co-operation and we are very sorry for your inconvenience.”
Mr Ward has been charged with robbing the bank and of the false imprisonment of Kevin McMullan and his wife Kyran. He denies all charges against him.