Events for December 20

December 20, 2004

A gang of thieves steal £26.5 million worth of currency from the Northern Bank in Belfast, one of the largest bank robberies in British history

On 20 December 2004, a total of £26.5 million in cash was stolen from the headquarters of Northern Bank on Donegall Square West in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Having taken family members of two bank officials hostage, an armed gang forced the workers to help them steal used and unused pound sterling banknotes. The money was loaded into a van and driven away in two trips. This was one of the largest bank robberies in the history of the United Kingdom.

December 20, 1935

Martin O'Meara, VC, was an Irish-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Crossy, died

Martin O’Meara, VC (6 November 1885 – 20 December 1935) was an Irish-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

December 20, 1799

Nicholas Callan, priest, physicist, writer, and inventor of the induction coil, is born in Dromiskin, Co. Louth

Nicholas Joseph Callan (22 December 1799 – 10 January 1864) was an Irish Catholic priest, writer, and physicist. He was professor of natural philosophy at Maynooth College in County Kildare from 1834. He is best known for his significant contributions to the development of electrical technology, particularly for his invention of the induction coil.

December 20, 1935

Robert Knox, Scottish surgeon and zoologist, died

Robert Knox, FRSE FRCSE, born on September 4, 1791, and passing away on December 20, 1862, was a Scottish anatomist and ethnologist, whose career and reputation were significantly impacted by his involvement in the notorious Burke and Hare murders.