£26.5m robbers 'out to terrorise'

Mr Ward denies the charges against him

The gang behind the £26.5m Northern Bank robbery was clearly prepared to use tactics to terrorise innocent people, a judge has said.

Mr Justice McLaughlin was speaking at the end of evidence given by key witness bank manager Kevin McMullan.

He told Belfast Crown Court how he and his wife were held at gunpoint, bound and threatened.

Chris Ward, 26, from Colinmill, Poleglass, denies being the "inside man" in the December 2004 robbery.

He further denies two charges of abducting Mr McMullan and his wife, Karyn.

The judge said the trial was not intended to decide if the robbers came from an organisation or criminal gang.

At Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday, he told Mr McMullan: "The public are entitled to be grateful to both you and your wife because of the way you have come to court to explain what happened.

"This is something that caused a great public furore and public scandal in the community and I'm trying my best to ensure that the public know what happened."

Earlier on Tuesday, a defence lawyer described how the incident had "never left" Christopher Ward or his family and that if anything, "matter have got worse".

He asked Mr McMullan if it was the same for him and his wife Karyn.

"I would say it certainly has had a devastating effect on our lives.

"The court process is one of those things you have to accept has to happen - it's not easy to deal with," Mr McMullan said.

The trial continues.