MCKEVITT TRIAL MAY LAST FOUR WEEKS
McKevitt trial may last four weeks
THE trial of the alleged leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, will take at least four weeks, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard.
Prosecuting counsel, George Birmingham SC, told the court the trial will last at least four weeks when McKevitt made a brief appearance in court yesterday. Mr Birmingham said that details of payments made to the main prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, had been provided to McKevitt's defence team.
But McKevitt's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, said that the defence had sought disclosure under 14 separate headings. He said the defence would like one week before a date for McKevitt's trial is fixed and he would have to consider how long it will take to prepare the defence.
The court was told at an earlier hearing that Mr Rupert, who worked for the FBI and British Intelligence, successfully infiltrated the Real IRA leadership and attended their Army Council meetings. The court has also heard that McKevitt allegedly met Mr Rupert over a two year period and asked him to acquire equipment for the dissident republicans. Michael McKevitt (51) of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, is charged that between August 29, 1999 and March 28, 2001, within the State, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army and that he directed the activities of the organisation.
THE trial of the alleged leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, will take at least four weeks, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard.
Prosecuting counsel, George Birmingham SC, told the court the trial will last at least four weeks when McKevitt made a brief appearance in court yesterday. Mr Birmingham said that details of payments made to the main prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, had been provided to McKevitt's defence team.
But McKevitt's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, said that the defence had sought disclosure under 14 separate headings. He said the defence would like one week before a date for McKevitt's trial is fixed and he would have to consider how long it will take to prepare the defence.
The court was told at an earlier hearing that Mr Rupert, who worked for the FBI and British Intelligence, successfully infiltrated the Real IRA leadership and attended their Army Council meetings. The court has also heard that McKevitt allegedly met Mr Rupert over a two year period and asked him to acquire equipment for the dissident republicans. Michael McKevitt (51) of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, is charged that between August 29, 1999 and March 28, 2001, within the State, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army and that he directed the activities of the organisation.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0786
Published Date: 28-Nov-01
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.