The detective heading up the investigation into the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery is leaving the police, it emerged this evening.
Superintendent Andy Sproule will end his 28-year career on June 1st. He had already decided to accept an early retirement severance package before December's raid in Belfast and senior officers were aware of his intentions to go.
Det Supt Sproule (47) head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland 's organised crime squad, is in charge of up to 50 officers involved in the investigation. Chief Constable Huge Orde has blamed the IRA for the robbery.
A source close to the inquiry tonight confirmed Sproule's planned departure: "They've [senior officers] known for months, well before Christmas that he intended to go and it hasn't come as a huge surprise.
"He is probably the most experienced detective on the team and has done great work on this inquiry.
"He remains confident the crime can be solved, and although its sad he's leaving, everything is in place to make sure there are no interruptions."
Supt Philip Aiken, a former head of the fraud squad, will take over. He has been working on the investigation for a number of weeks.
It is understood members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board have been informed of the changes. Apart from £50,000 which was discovered hidden at a Belfast sports club used by police officers - detectives believe the money was deliberately planted to embarrass them - none of the missing millions has been recovered.
Forensic tests carried out on used £20 Northern Irish notes found in Co Cork last month, as part of a major investigation into IRA money laundering in the Irish Republic, have as yet been unable to establish beyond doubt if they were part of the consignments stolen from the bank's cash distribution centre on December 20th.