Niall Murphy was speaking outside Belfast Crown Court after Ward walked free after charges against him were dropped when the prosecution opted to present no further evidence.

In a forthright statement, Mr Murphy criticised the conduct of the police investigation.

"His (Ward's) acquittal, five weeks into a trial with almost two months of evidence still to be heard, is itself an illustration of the flawed approach of this investigation which has been exposed in the public hearings which have been held to date," he said.

"While Mr Ward welcomes this recognition, even at this late stage, that the evidence as opened by the Crown simply could not stand the rigours of the trial process, he is also satisfied that further flaws in the Crown's case could and would have been exposed had the trial proceeded."

The solicitor, speaking on behalf of his cleint, demanded a root and branch analysis of how some high-profile criminal cases were prosecuted.

"Millions of pounds have been spent in the pursuit of an innocent man who in turn was caught up in a case that attracted international political condemnation for reasons other than the robbery of a bank.

"For that Mr Ward is now entitled to an apology."

Mr Murphy added the fact that his client was a Catholic and charged with the offence was enough to seal his guilt in the eyes of some.