BT/0925

Agent witness for Omagh case
By Victoria Ward

"SUPERSPY" David Rupert will be a key witness in the Omagh bomb victims' civil case against those suspected of carrying out the Real IRA atrocity, it emerged today.
The trucking company boss-turned double agent was a major player in the conviction of Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt last year. He will be giving evidence against five men suspected of the August 1998 bombing, in a landmark civil action.
A preliminary hearing was due to take place in Belfast High Court tomorrow. Families and relatives of victims hope the case will be heard at the end of the summer.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among the 29 killed, said confirmation that Rupert was taking part in the case was fantastic news.
"It is a massive leap forward for the familie's," he said. "It is enormous news and we are very pleased."
Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy are being sued for £10m by the Omagh Victims' Civil Action Group.
Daly, McKevitt, Campbell and Murphy - the only one to be convicted in connection with the Omagh bombing - are serving sentences in the Republic for Real IRA membership.
Murphy was sentenced to 14 years in January 2002 for plotting the Omagh attack.