Hugh Orde will quit as Chief Constable if his assessment of IRA involvement in the Northern Bank robbery turns out to be wrong,it has been revealed tonight.

In a briefing to the authority holding him to account,Orde admitted the huge stakes involved in the hunt for the gang behind the robbery in Belfast.

A Policing Board source said: "He went so far as to say if he got this one wrong his position would be untenable."

I wonder if Orde would really mind if he was no longer the Chief Constable?It seems to me like it's a pretty thankless job.He'd probably be delighted to get the hell out of there.