A security guard taken captive during Northern Ireland's largest hold-up thought he might be murdered by the gang which stole £1.1 million from his Securicor van. Mr Keith Dixon was giving evidence yesterday at the Belfast Crown Court trial of fellow Securicor guard, Mr Keith Winward, who denies involvement in the April 1996 robbery.
Mr Dixon told Mr Justice Girvan he was handcuffed before the gang left with the money. At one stage, he thought something might go wrong and the gunmen might return and shoot him.
Mr Dixon said the stolen money was meant for Belfast's Post Office headquarters, but that Mr Winward changed their route.
Mr Winward told him that his wife and family had been taken hostage by the IRA at his Finch Way home in south Belfast's Taughmonagh estate.
They were confronted by three masked gunmen, Mr Dixon said. He said the gang left him and Mr Winward handcuffed to two window frames but they managed to escape and stop a woman motorist who took them to her home.
Mr Dixon said while they waited for police to arrive, Mr Winward produced a piece of paper. Mr Dixon said Mr Winward "told the woman that his wife and family were taken hostage and that he had been given a map on how to get to the premises" where they were robbed. The trial continues today.