UK News 07-01-2005 IRA Was Behind £22m Bank Job who: IRA what: Believed to be behind £22million Northern Bank robbery where: BELFAST when: December 20th snippet: Almost a month to the day since the last efforts towards a breakthrough in the Northern Ireland peace process collapsed, a return to power-sharing seems further away than ever with the news that the IRA were behind the headline-grabbing £22million Northern Bank robbery in Belfast city centre last month. Chief Constable Hugh Orde pointed the finger at the IRA this afternoon, but he failed to introduce and evidence at his meeting with the Northern Ireland Policing Board. He said it was his "opinion" that the IRA were responsible and that all lines of inquiry pointed "in that direction". Sinn Fein`s Martin McGuinness immediately responded by saying he believed the IRA were not responsible and accusing the police of undermining "the process of change which Sinn Fein has been driving forward". The police have so far made no charges in connection with the crime, which was reported to have been meticulously planned and executed by criminals whom the Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea described as "extremely violent and dangerous". "The small amount of trust built up in recent months between republicans and Ian Paisley`s Democratic Unionists is expected to evaporate," says Thomas Harding, The Telegraph`s Ireland correspondent. "The chances of power sharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein before and beyond the general election expected in May will be remote." "There can be absolutely no place - not merely for terrorist activity, but for criminal activity of any sort - by people associated with a political party," said Mr Blair at his Downing Street press conference on Thursday, anticipating Friday`s news. [... more]

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