Who robbed the Northern Bank?

[dahamsta]

It was me. I'm having Foot.ie gold-plated.

[M@ttitude]

Breaking News, the blindfolded women was behind the whole thing! Traumatised me ar$e..

[thecorner]

from www.breakingnews.ie

The gang behind the Northern Bank heist may be forced to dump more than half the cash, it emerged tonight.

Police chiefs hunting the robbers revealed most of the missing money is made up in new notes.

Money laundering experts in Britain believe it will be virtually impossible to shift the cash without raising suspicions.

With police refusing to rule out republican or loyalist paramilitary involvement in the raid, Jeffrey Robinson said: “If they are smart they will take the US dollars and euro that are there and burn the rest.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

brilliant country, even helping them along the way

[fosterdollar]

I've heard reports though that the notes are mainly Northern Ireland ones. They have 40 detectives working on the case now. There will a lot of pressure on the PSNI to have something to show for after this

[fosterdollar]

Article in Indo

THE gang responsible for the world's biggest bank robbery may be unable to dispose of three-quarters of their loot.

The haul from the Northern Bank cash holding centre in Belfast was last night officially estimated at €32m. But the raiders, despite the meticulous planning and audacious methods employed to acquire the money, have yet to overcome their biggest obstacle - spending the loot without being caught.

It emerged yesterday that €18m was made up of new Northern Bank £20 and £10 notes, while another €2.25m consisted of new Northern Bank £100 and £50 notes. The bank will have full details of the serial numbers of the notes, rendering it effectively useless.

Another €5.1m was in used Northern Bank notes, which will be almost impossible to spend or launder without immediately arousing suspicion outside Northern Ireland.

This leaves the gang with only €7.5m in used notes from other banks and even then disposing of it is no longer an easy task because of the activities of bodies, such as the Assets Recovery Agency in the North and the Criminal Assets Bureau on this side of the brder.

As more details of the elaborately planned robbery were revealed yesterday, it emerged the gang were "forensically aware", dressing one woman hostage in blue overalls and trainers to help avoid leaving traces and cleaning up carefully to prevent fingerprints being left behind.

While questioning the two bank officials separately, the gang also displayed extensive knowledge of the layout of the bank building and its internal security system.

Inquiries so far have confirmed initial suspicions that the gang had inside information on how to overcome the obstacles mounted by the security procedures and alarms as well as the battery of CCTV cameras.

[lopez]

Good point Corner: There may well have been a chance that they would go on an almighty tear with the loot and get caught. Not now, eh? I heard most of it was made up of Northern Bank's own notes. Dunno what it's like shifting them in the 26C, but it's next to f*cking impossible in Britain to get rid of in normal times.They'll stand out like a sore thumb now. As for Europe... ...yeah right. Got no sympathy for these people, even if they handed the money over to some worthy charity (and that doesn't include Prisoners Wives' Association or the Bolton Rehabilitation Fund).

[KR's Post]

How much did 'The General' and his gang get away with in the O'Connor job in the early 90's or late 80's. i'm not sure. They must dump half the loot they got though as it looks so new that it would be easily identified...... serial numbers and the lot

[dublinred]

I reckon it was Colin Farrell , its similar to the plot in Intermission.

[dublinred]

Who cares......'Der Banks' are all robbers themselves.......

Good point , they skim hundreds of millions every day in charges and extortionent rates yet a measly £26m goes missing and there is a big fuss.

[lopez]

Good point , they skim hundreds of millions every day in charges and extortionent rates yet a measly £26m goes missing and there is a big fuss.

Bunch of Shylocks allright and they'll be skimming a few hundred million more to make up this small shortfall. The customer is the one who'll pay, mark my words.

[tricky_colour]

one woman was blindfolded for hours. Many people would rather have got a few slaps. it must have been traumatic

Aren't Iraqi 'suspects' hooded and bound?
(nothing to do with Ireland of course)

[Éanna]

Aren't Iraqi 'suspects' hooded and bound?
(nothing to do with Ireland of course)

you mean when they're kidnapped and sent off to a period of indefinite torture- yeah they sure are. and we provide a nice, scenic refuelling spot for their captors

[Risteard]

I'd say that woman will be traumatised for years. Whats worse in your book- a belt over the back of the head and a few hours unconscious, followed by a day or two in hospital and no memory of what happened. Or being petrified every time your doorbell rings and being afraid to go out on your own? I'd take belt over the back of the head any day!

Why would she have no memory of it?
Surely, She's likely to be more traumatised if she actually got hit.
As far as a big bank job goes, it couldn't have gone much smoother (no bullets etc.)
+ the money was insured.
First thing that occurred to me was the IRA RETIREMENT FUND.
Ironically, could be good for the North.

[liam88]

Eastern Europe, middle east, Africa are all possible destinations for the money......that's where the IRA's other 'fundraisers' went

[oconghc2]

in all fairness liam they don't know who did it!! when we're talking paramilitary it seems a bit too easy to suggest republican paramilitary!!

fair enough there's a track record there but still i think people are too quick to listen to the hype!