MCKEVITT'S WIFE MAY BE NAMED IN LAWSUIT
McKevitt's wife may be named in lawsuit
Victims consider new move
By Michael McHugh
OMAGH bomb victims are to consider naming Bernadette Sands McKevitt in connection with their legal action against a number of people they allege are behind the atrocity.
During the trial of Michael McKevitt, Dublin Special Criminal Court heard star witness infiltrator David Rupert say that he was given a chain of command of republicans loyal to the Real IRA to report to.
Bernadette Sands McKevitt, he told the court, was number three behind Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell. She could now be included in the Omagh victims' legal action against alleged masterminds behind the bomb.
A high-powered legal team has been employed by the families to sue Michael McKevitt, (51), Liam Campbell, (38), Colm Murphy, (51), Seamus McKenna, (49), and 33-year-old Seamus Daly.
Michael McKevitt was sentenced to 20 years jail yesterday after being found guilty of directing terrorism and belonging to the Real IRA.
He is the first person to be convicted of the charge.
Technically no new names can be included in the legal action as more than three years have passed since the August 1998 bombing, but Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, whose son Aidan died in the bomb, said he was exploring legal methods of including Bernadette Sands McKevitt.
"We did not name her initially as our lawyers did not believe they could gather enough evidence against her," he explained. "We only had three years from the bombing to file our papers but I think we can look at this as an exception. "We have to prove that we only became aware yesterday that Sands McKevitt was the third person in the chain of command."
During his evidence before the court, Mr Rupert said: "I was to report to him (McKevitt) as number one, Liam Campbell as number two and Bernadette (Sands McKevitt) as number three."
Mr Gallagher said he was disappointed that the legislation which enabled Michael McKevitt's prosecution, which was drawn up in August 1999, was not made retrospective to include the Omagh bombing.
"The legislation was introduced because of the Omagh bomb, so it is strange that it did not include the bomb.
"He has technically escaped justice for the Omagh bomb but it was obvious from the evidence given during the trial that he was involved," he added. "Yesterday was a small victory for us and we are grateful but we will continue our fight for justice."
Victims consider new move
By Michael McHugh
OMAGH bomb victims are to consider naming Bernadette Sands McKevitt in connection with their legal action against a number of people they allege are behind the atrocity.
During the trial of Michael McKevitt, Dublin Special Criminal Court heard star witness infiltrator David Rupert say that he was given a chain of command of republicans loyal to the Real IRA to report to.
Bernadette Sands McKevitt, he told the court, was number three behind Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell. She could now be included in the Omagh victims' legal action against alleged masterminds behind the bomb.
A high-powered legal team has been employed by the families to sue Michael McKevitt, (51), Liam Campbell, (38), Colm Murphy, (51), Seamus McKenna, (49), and 33-year-old Seamus Daly.
Michael McKevitt was sentenced to 20 years jail yesterday after being found guilty of directing terrorism and belonging to the Real IRA.
He is the first person to be convicted of the charge.
Technically no new names can be included in the legal action as more than three years have passed since the August 1998 bombing, but Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, whose son Aidan died in the bomb, said he was exploring legal methods of including Bernadette Sands McKevitt.
"We did not name her initially as our lawyers did not believe they could gather enough evidence against her," he explained. "We only had three years from the bombing to file our papers but I think we can look at this as an exception. "We have to prove that we only became aware yesterday that Sands McKevitt was the third person in the chain of command."
During his evidence before the court, Mr Rupert said: "I was to report to him (McKevitt) as number one, Liam Campbell as number two and Bernadette (Sands McKevitt) as number three."
Mr Gallagher said he was disappointed that the legislation which enabled Michael McKevitt's prosecution, which was drawn up in August 1999, was not made retrospective to include the Omagh bombing.
"The legislation was introduced because of the Omagh bomb, so it is strange that it did not include the bomb.
"He has technically escaped justice for the Omagh bomb but it was obvious from the evidence given during the trial that he was involved," he added. "Yesterday was a small victory for us and we are grateful but we will continue our fight for justice."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0899
Published Date: 08-Aug-03
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