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Arrests over Northern Bank raid Man faces money laundering charge
(about 4 hours later)
Irish detectives have arrested two men in connection with a money laundering inquiry launched after the Northern Bank robbery in December 2004. A man has appeared in court charged with money laundering related to the Northern Bank robbery in 2004.
Cash, including more than £2.3m, was found in a wheeled bin at a house in Cork in February 2005. Ted Cunningham, 60, of Church View, Farran, Cork, made no reply to all of 10 charges of handling money knowing it was the proceeds of a crime.
The two men are expected to appear at Cork District Court, with one on money laundering charges and one on weapons charges. Don Blaney, 40, an English national with an Irish passport, of Passage West, Cork, was charged with possession of ammunition.
About £26.5m was stolen in the robbery at the Northern Bank in Belfast. The case has been adjourned until later for a bail hearing.
The two men who were arrested include Ted Cunningham from Farrans in Cork, outside whose house the bin was found. The men appeared before Cork District Court on Thursday.
A garda spokesman said the two men would be facing separate charges, with only one charged with money laundering. Mr Cunningham was arrested just after 0700 GMT on Thursday at his home in Farran.
He added: "These charges arise out of an investigation carried out by the Gardai in Cork following the robbery of the Northern Bank. He has been charged in connection with £3,585,840 and 221,000 euro in relation to the proceeds of the Northern Bank robbbery.
"As part of the same investigation, a second man will also appear in court this morning charged with possession of ammunition." The state agreed to strict bail conditions for Mr Blaney, but is objecting to bail for Mr Cunningham because of the seriousness of the charges he faces.
'Bulgarian businessmen'
Mr Cunningham, 60, is a former business associate of ex-Sinn Fein senior figure Phil Flynn.Mr Cunningham, 60, is a former business associate of ex-Sinn Fein senior figure Phil Flynn.
About £2.3m was found in the wheeled bin outside Mr Cunningham's home in February 2005. About £2.3m was allegedly found in a wheeled bin outside Mr Cunningham's home in February 2005.
Mr Cunningham is understood to have told police the money belonged to a group of Bulgarian businessmen he had dealings with and was not connected to the Northern Bank money.
The second man arrested, aged 40, is understood to be facing charges connected to a smaller amount of money.
That money was seized in a number of follow-up raids by detectives.