BANK ACCUSED WENT XMAS SHOPPING ON DAY OF HEIST; Ward's jewellers trip as family held.

A WORKER accused of the pounds 26.5million Northern Bank heist went Christmas shopping while his family were held captive, a court was told yesterday.

Belfast Crown Court saw a police interview with Christopher Ward, 26, where he explained how he and manager Kevin McMullan were forced to empty the vault in the UK's biggest robbery in December 2004.

Ward, from Poleglass, West Belfast, said their families would have been killed if they refused.

Ward, who denies robbery and false imprisonment, said he had to phone the kidnappers and give them updates.

He added: "It was difficult to get a signal inside so I went out. I made the first call during my lunch and I also had to get a Christmas present so I went to the jewellers."

In the interview recorded two days before his arrest, Ward said they hid pounds 18.5million with chairs, bags and boxes to pretend they were taking items for the dump.

He said: "We loaded up and Kevin had to call security to open the doors. If they had become suspicious they could have refused and trapped us in the lift.

"The gang told me to ring them when all 24 boxes were in the loading bay and use the words 'Send the van,' which I did."

The trial continues.

CAPTION(S):

COURT Ward