MCKEVITT BACKLASH FEARS
McKevitt Backlash Fears
Terror group may react with violence
By Jonathan McCambrldge
SECURITY was today being stepped up on both sides of the border following security assessments that the Real IRA may be about to stage a violent reaction to the conviction of Michael McKevitt.
McKevitt, the man who masterminded the organisation behind the Omagh bomb, was today due to find out if he will face life imprisonment for directing terrorism.
Real IRA leader McKevitt (53) is the first person to be convicted in the Republic of directing terrorism, a charge introduced in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing.
Yesterday's verdict, which was welcomed by the relatives of those killed in the atrocity, came just nine days short of the fifth anniversary of the massacre in which 29 people and unborn twins died.
McKevitt was convicted largely on the evidence of FBI mole David Rupert, an American who infiltrated the republican organisation.
For more than half of the five week trial the 6ft 5ins tall, 20 stone businessman from upstate New York revealed McKevitt's plans to launch new terror strikes that would be even more shocking than Omagh and to branch out into cyber terrorism.
But Rupert must now disappear into obscurity under threat of retaliatory action from the Real IRA. He is currently living alone under armed protection in Ireland, but is likely to return to the US.
As this is the first time the charge of directing terrorism has been brought in the Irish Republic, there is no precedent for a sentence.
But McKevitt, who was also convicted of being a member of the Real IRA, could be given life imprisonment.
McKevitt's wife, Bernadette Sands McKevitt, has already claimed he was denied a fair trial and vowed that he would appeal the guilty verdict.
She said: "The court case that took place was nothing more than a show trial."
But delighted relatives of the Omagh bomb victims insisted the judgement would strengthen their �10m civil action against McKevitt and four other men they blame for the worst atrocity in 30 years of violence.
Even though no one has ever been charged with the attack that killed 29 people, with the fifth anniversary looming next week, families insisted the conviction was a major step in their fight for justice.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann died in the explosion, said: "The net is closing in on the Omagh bombers.
"Having come this far, we cannot let them get away."
Terror group may react with violence
By Jonathan McCambrldge
SECURITY was today being stepped up on both sides of the border following security assessments that the Real IRA may be about to stage a violent reaction to the conviction of Michael McKevitt.
McKevitt, the man who masterminded the organisation behind the Omagh bomb, was today due to find out if he will face life imprisonment for directing terrorism.
Real IRA leader McKevitt (53) is the first person to be convicted in the Republic of directing terrorism, a charge introduced in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing.
Yesterday's verdict, which was welcomed by the relatives of those killed in the atrocity, came just nine days short of the fifth anniversary of the massacre in which 29 people and unborn twins died.
McKevitt was convicted largely on the evidence of FBI mole David Rupert, an American who infiltrated the republican organisation.
For more than half of the five week trial the 6ft 5ins tall, 20 stone businessman from upstate New York revealed McKevitt's plans to launch new terror strikes that would be even more shocking than Omagh and to branch out into cyber terrorism.
But Rupert must now disappear into obscurity under threat of retaliatory action from the Real IRA. He is currently living alone under armed protection in Ireland, but is likely to return to the US.
As this is the first time the charge of directing terrorism has been brought in the Irish Republic, there is no precedent for a sentence.
But McKevitt, who was also convicted of being a member of the Real IRA, could be given life imprisonment.
McKevitt's wife, Bernadette Sands McKevitt, has already claimed he was denied a fair trial and vowed that he would appeal the guilty verdict.
She said: "The court case that took place was nothing more than a show trial."
But delighted relatives of the Omagh bomb victims insisted the judgement would strengthen their �10m civil action against McKevitt and four other men they blame for the worst atrocity in 30 years of violence.
Even though no one has ever been charged with the attack that killed 29 people, with the fifth anniversary looming next week, families insisted the conviction was a major step in their fight for justice.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann died in the explosion, said: "The net is closing in on the Omagh bombers.
"Having come this far, we cannot let them get away."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0898
Published Date: 07-Aug-03
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