COURT TOLD OF REAL IRA HUNT FOR US MOLE
Court told of Real IRA hunt for US mole
By CHRIS PARKIN
THE terrorist group behind the Omagh bombing made several attempts to trace an FBI agent preparing to give evidence against its alleged leader, a policeman told a Dublin court yesterday.
Det Chief Supt Martin Callinan told the anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court that there was a "real and very substantive" threat to American David Rupert and that the Real IRA had made a number of "extreme efforts" to find him and members of his family.
"I have no doubt of the lengths the Real IRA will go identifying people who supply information to the gardai and the retribution that follows.
"There are several examples of it," said Mr Callinan.
Mr Rupert, who was recruited by the FBI and British intelligence to relay information after infiltrating republican groups, is said to have demanded a $2 million deal to testify against Michael McKevitt, who is due to stand trial early next year on charges of directing terrorism.
The 51-year-old former IRA quartermaster from Dundalk is the first person to be charged with the offence under legislation introduced by the Dublin government after the 1998 bombing of Omagh.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack on the town, when 29 people, including a pregnant mother of twins, died and more than 200 others were injured.
Mr Rupert is to be the key witness in the trial of McKevitt, whose defence team say they will challenge his credibility.
Mr Callinan, head of the Garda intelligence and security section, said he had "great concerns" about the safety of Mr Rupert.
He told a preliminary hearing linked to the trial at the no-jury court that the exposure of names of personnel from the FBI and the British security services, who have provided sworn affidavits in the case against McKevitt, would "place their lives in real danger".
The chief superintendent said they had a file on McKevitt with information going back three decades.
McKevitt, who has also been charged with membership of an illegal organisation, is claimed to be the leader of the Real IRA, formed by ex-IRA members.
The preliminary hearing, focusing on arguments over the disclosure of documents presented in the ease against McKevitt, has heard from prosecutor George Birmingham of a series of meetings Mr Rupert, now a protected witness, had attended with McKevitt and other republican movement members over a period of years.
At one such meeting, McKevitt was alleged to have said that the Omagh attack was a joint operation involving both the Real IRA and fellow dissidents in the Continuity IRA.
On other occasions, he talked of an American who, "if you wanted to have Tony Blair assassinated, is your man", spoke about an unspecified incident that would "overshadow Omagh" and referred to terrorist incidents in Northern Ireland and a bombing in Hammersmith, London.
Mr Birmingham told the court's three judges that Mr Rupert had first gone to Ireland in the early 1990s with a political activist girlfriend from Florida who had a strong interest in Irish affairs.
He said that Mr Rupert had been described by a New York police officer as "an extremely street-smart criminal who let others take the risks and would do anything for money".
FBI officers have told the court there are no records of criminal activity on the part of Mr Rupert.
The preliminary hearing is expected to end with a reserved judgment on the documents after the conclusion of legal submissions today.
By CHRIS PARKIN
THE terrorist group behind the Omagh bombing made several attempts to trace an FBI agent preparing to give evidence against its alleged leader, a policeman told a Dublin court yesterday.
Det Chief Supt Martin Callinan told the anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court that there was a "real and very substantive" threat to American David Rupert and that the Real IRA had made a number of "extreme efforts" to find him and members of his family.
"I have no doubt of the lengths the Real IRA will go identifying people who supply information to the gardai and the retribution that follows.
"There are several examples of it," said Mr Callinan.
Mr Rupert, who was recruited by the FBI and British intelligence to relay information after infiltrating republican groups, is said to have demanded a $2 million deal to testify against Michael McKevitt, who is due to stand trial early next year on charges of directing terrorism.
The 51-year-old former IRA quartermaster from Dundalk is the first person to be charged with the offence under legislation introduced by the Dublin government after the 1998 bombing of Omagh.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack on the town, when 29 people, including a pregnant mother of twins, died and more than 200 others were injured.
Mr Rupert is to be the key witness in the trial of McKevitt, whose defence team say they will challenge his credibility.
Mr Callinan, head of the Garda intelligence and security section, said he had "great concerns" about the safety of Mr Rupert.
He told a preliminary hearing linked to the trial at the no-jury court that the exposure of names of personnel from the FBI and the British security services, who have provided sworn affidavits in the case against McKevitt, would "place their lives in real danger".
The chief superintendent said they had a file on McKevitt with information going back three decades.
McKevitt, who has also been charged with membership of an illegal organisation, is claimed to be the leader of the Real IRA, formed by ex-IRA members.
The preliminary hearing, focusing on arguments over the disclosure of documents presented in the ease against McKevitt, has heard from prosecutor George Birmingham of a series of meetings Mr Rupert, now a protected witness, had attended with McKevitt and other republican movement members over a period of years.
At one such meeting, McKevitt was alleged to have said that the Omagh attack was a joint operation involving both the Real IRA and fellow dissidents in the Continuity IRA.
On other occasions, he talked of an American who, "if you wanted to have Tony Blair assassinated, is your man", spoke about an unspecified incident that would "overshadow Omagh" and referred to terrorist incidents in Northern Ireland and a bombing in Hammersmith, London.
Mr Birmingham told the court's three judges that Mr Rupert had first gone to Ireland in the early 1990s with a political activist girlfriend from Florida who had a strong interest in Irish affairs.
He said that Mr Rupert had been described by a New York police officer as "an extremely street-smart criminal who let others take the risks and would do anything for money".
FBI officers have told the court there are no records of criminal activity on the part of Mr Rupert.
The preliminary hearing is expected to end with a reserved judgment on the documents after the conclusion of legal submissions today.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/450
Published Date: 11-Oct-02
Related Images
