22/04/2009

Northern Banknote Alert Sees Cork Man Jailed Over Bullets

The infamous Northern Bank robbery in Belfast in 2004 has again been in the spotlight in an Irish court.

It emerged today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that partly burnt Northern sterling - thought to be part of the robbery haul - was found at a house in Passage West, Co Cork, which prompted a follow-up search.

Over 200 rounds of live ammunition for a Kalashnikov assault rifle was then found and today the householder responsible Don Blaney, 51, was jailed for two years.

He was convicted last November following a five-day trial and six hours of deliberation by the trial jury.

Blaney has continued to maintain his innocence but Inspector Mary King said that the investigation commenced following a call to gardaí that two Northern sterling notes - one partially burnt - had been found in the garden neighbouring Blaney's house and that a chimney fire had been seen there the previous night.

A warrant issued under the Offences Against the State Act was then executed by Sergeant Peter Quinn and in the search of Blaney's home the live ammunition was found in a lunchbox in an upstairs desk.

Judge Murphy said the actual type of the ammunition exacerbated the offence.

The massive Belfast robbery has been repeatedly blamed on the IRA, although Sinn Féin politicians have consistently denied this to be the case.

(BMcC)

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