THE FATHER of Northern Bank clerk Christopher Ward accused of being behind the £26.5 million (€33 million) robbery spoke proudly of his love for his son and he dismissed the prosecution case “as ludicrous”.
Gerard Ward, who at times wept openly, told Belfast Crown Court yesterday that his son would never have set his family up to be held captive nor put his mother through such an ordeal. His son Christopher (26) denies the 2004 robbery and to kidnapping his bank boss Kevin McMullan and his wife Kyran.
Mr Ward snr was asked by defence QC Arthur Harvey if his regard for his son Christopher had changed since the night their home was “invaded”.
“Well if it is possible to love him any more than I did, then yes, for we thought we were not going to see him again,” said a proud, but often emotional Mr Ward snr.
The father-of-two told the court he had co-operated fully with police since his family’s ordeal, and despite the fact his son was charged with the robbery, he was alway prepared to come to court to give evidence.
However, concerning the robbery charge and his son’s involvement in his family being held captive, Mr Ward was adamant: “That is ludicrous to think that Christopher would be involved in anything like that”. During his evidence Mr Ward also revealed that since their ordeal his family, including his son Christopher, underwent six months of counselling, organised by the Northern Bank. Earlier, he described the men who held his family hostage for 24 hours as “criminals, gangsters”. The trial continues.