Acquittal urged for raid accused

The lawyer for one of eight men accused of involvement in a £150,000 warehouse raid yesterday called on the jury to acquit him…

The lawyer for one of eight men accused of involvement in a £150,000 warehouse raid yesterday called on the jury to acquit him. The prosecution case against Dubliner Mr Desmond Christie (32) was "weak to the core, Mr Seamus Tracey BL told a jury at Belfast Crown Court.

The prosecution claims that Mr Christie was caught redhanded by police during an armed raid on Holmes's warehouse on Belfast's Boucher Road on February 12th last year.

Mr Christie was arrested in the back of a Volvo lorry allegedly being loaded with stolen cigarettes. Mr Tracey said his client had twice provided police with an explanation of his presence.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter