BT/1083

Mole in Omagh case 'ban'
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

THE FBI has forbidden an agent who infiltrated the Real IRA from giving evidence at a civil action being brought by relatives of the Omagh victims, a Belfast court has heard.
Families for six of the 29 people killed in the 1998 atrocity wish to submit transcripts of evidence from spy, David Rupert, as part of their case. Mr Rupert, who is now in a witness protection programme, testified against Real IRA godfather, Michael McKevitt, during his trial in Dublin in 2003. His evidence was regarded as valuable in securing a guilty verdict and McKevitt is now serving a 20-year term in Portlaoise Prison.
The families are suing five men - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna - for £14 million exemplary damages. All five deny any part in the mass murder. During day six of the multi- million pound civil case a barrister acting for McKevitt said he understood that the FBI had simply "vetoed" any appearance by Rupert in Belfast.
Submissions on Rupert's evidence are due to be heard next week and if Mr Justice Morgan
admits the series of emails then the Michael O'Higgins SC said he would be seeking an explanation as to why Rupert was not appearing in court.
Mr O'Higgins then said the material would be trawled for deficiencies which he claimed were "many and varied".
"When we deal with admissibility, one of the issues we deal with is why Mr Rupert isn't here. I mean in the wider sense - on the television and not necessarily in the witness box.
"Our understanding is that the court made an order that his evidence could be given by video-link."