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Omagh bomb 'should have been driven out of town'
Targeting device hit problems, trial told.
By Ben Lowry In Dublin

THE alleged Real IRA leader told an FBI spy that the terrorists who delivered the Omagh bomb had encountered targeting difficulties and as a result should have released the device in the countryside, a court has been told.
In evidence at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday, David Rupert said that Michael McKevitt was upset that the 1998 attack had not gone according to plan.
Rupert (51), an American businessman, is the chief witness against Dundalk man McKevitt, who is charged with being a member of the Real IRA and directing the terror group. He denies both counts.
Omagh was allegedly discussed when the two men first met in the autumn of 1999 at the Four Seasons hotel in Monaghan.
"I don't know if I was introduced to Michael McKevitt or whether it was understood that I knew who he was and he knew who I was," said Rupert. "The meeting went real smooth. I liked Mr McKevitt - he was pretty personable."
Rupert said that it was clear from the meeting that McKevitt was in charge of the Real IRA, even though this was not explicitly stated.
"I have been in business a long time and when you meet the man in charge, it is not hard to tell," the witness said.
At the Monaghan meeting, they discussed the ramifications of the Omagh attack such as resulting fundraising difficulties in the US.
"It was obvious that it was a big black mark," Rupert said.
McKevitt allegedly said that the Real IRA had 20% responsibility for the blast and the Continuity IRA 80%.
The Real IRA acquired the car and built the bomb but Continuity picked the target and delivered it.
Rupert said McKevitt had explained that the bomb had not been placed where intended, as specified in the warning. This was because there was no parking there, and instead the bombers drove the vehicle to a place down the road where there was parking.
"He said they should have driven it out to the country and let it go," Rupert recalled.
The spy said that McKevitt accused the Continuity of failing to honour an agreement that both groups would claim responsibility.
The Real IRA were first to claim but after they did so, the veteran republican Ruairi O'Bradaigh denounced the bomb and the Continuity did not put in a claim.
"It really left the Real IRA in a hot spot," Rupert added.
Rupert said that at the meeting he was given a command structure to report to.
"I was to report to him (McKevitt) as number one, Liam Campbell as number two and Bernadette (Sands McKevitt) as number three."
Rupert told the court, however, that McKevitt had said he was not on the Real IRA's five-member army council because he didn't want the group to be known as his army.
At hearing.