OMAGH SPY MAY HAVE BEEN HYPNOTISED
Omagh spy 'may have been hypnotised'
AN FBI spy who infiltrated the organisation behind the Omagh bomb massacre may have been hypnotised, the High Court heard yesterday.
Claims that the memory aid could have been used on US double agent David Rupert were disclosed as convicted Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt's lawyers attempted to gain access to intelligence files.
McKevitt, pictured left, one of five men being sued by relatives of some of the 29 people murdered in Omagh, wants the security services to hand over any dossiers relevant to his defence.
Day 11 of the multi-million pound civil action in Belfast was dominated by legal arguments over which legislation held sway on the issue.
Mr Justice Morgan confirmed he will rule on the application, by Michael O'Higgins SC, for McKevitt, on Tuesday.
The judge will then hear objections to the Omagh families' calling on Mr Rupert's testimony at a major criminal case as part of their evidence.
The American trucker turned intelligence mole played a key role in securing McKevitt's conviction and 20-year prison sentence for directing terrorism in 2003.
In a reference to Mr Rupert, Lord Brennan QC, for the Omagh relatives, told the court yesterday: "There's a suggestion in one of the applications he had been subject to hypnosis in order to help his recollection.
"The question is was that material known to McKevitt and his lawyers at the time of the Dublin trial? If not, how has it come to their attention?"
McKevitt has been named in the action alongside Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly as the men allegedly responsible for the August 1998 atrocity. All five deny liability.
The case continues.
AN FBI spy who infiltrated the organisation behind the Omagh bomb massacre may have been hypnotised, the High Court heard yesterday.
Claims that the memory aid could have been used on US double agent David Rupert were disclosed as convicted Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt's lawyers attempted to gain access to intelligence files.
McKevitt, pictured left, one of five men being sued by relatives of some of the 29 people murdered in Omagh, wants the security services to hand over any dossiers relevant to his defence.
Day 11 of the multi-million pound civil action in Belfast was dominated by legal arguments over which legislation held sway on the issue.
Mr Justice Morgan confirmed he will rule on the application, by Michael O'Higgins SC, for McKevitt, on Tuesday.
The judge will then hear objections to the Omagh families' calling on Mr Rupert's testimony at a major criminal case as part of their evidence.
The American trucker turned intelligence mole played a key role in securing McKevitt's conviction and 20-year prison sentence for directing terrorism in 2003.
In a reference to Mr Rupert, Lord Brennan QC, for the Omagh relatives, told the court yesterday: "There's a suggestion in one of the applications he had been subject to hypnosis in order to help his recollection.
"The question is was that material known to McKevitt and his lawyers at the time of the Dublin trial? If not, how has it come to their attention?"
McKevitt has been named in the action alongside Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly as the men allegedly responsible for the August 1998 atrocity. All five deny liability.
The case continues.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0925
Published Date: 29-Apr-08
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