ALLEGED REAL IRA CHIEF FOR JUNE TRIAL
Alleged Real IRA chief for June trial
By Staff Reporter
THE Special Criminal Court has provisionally fixed June 4 next year as the date for the trial of Michael McKevitt, the alleged leader of the Real IRA. The court fixed the date yesterday despite an objection from McKevitt's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, that the defence were not yet in a position to say that they will be ready for trial on any date.
Mr Hartnett said the defence is still trying to collate all the information supplied to them by the prosecution.
But Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding at the non-jury court, said the court would provisionally fix the trial date for June 4 next year and would give Mr Hartnett liberty to apply in January for a new date if he is not ready to go ahead in June.
Prosecuting counsel George Birmingham SC told the court last week that the trial will last at least four weeks.
The court was told at an earlier hearing that the main prosecution witness is David Rupert, who worked for the FBI and British intelligence, and that he was observed by gardai meeting Michael McKevitt on a number of occasions. 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 same organisation. It is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under new legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing.
McKevitt was remanded in continuing custody.
By Staff Reporter
THE Special Criminal Court has provisionally fixed June 4 next year as the date for the trial of Michael McKevitt, the alleged leader of the Real IRA. The court fixed the date yesterday despite an objection from McKevitt's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, that the defence were not yet in a position to say that they will be ready for trial on any date.
Mr Hartnett said the defence is still trying to collate all the information supplied to them by the prosecution.
But Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding at the non-jury court, said the court would provisionally fix the trial date for June 4 next year and would give Mr Hartnett liberty to apply in January for a new date if he is not ready to go ahead in June.
Prosecuting counsel George Birmingham SC told the court last week that the trial will last at least four weeks.
The court was told at an earlier hearing that the main prosecution witness is David Rupert, who worked for the FBI and British intelligence, and that he was observed by gardai meeting Michael McKevitt on a number of occasions. 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 same organisation. It is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under new legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing.
McKevitt was remanded in continuing custody.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0787
Published Date: 05-Dec-01
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