THE MOST LIKELY OF MOLES
The most unlikely of moles
FBI spy David Rupert was worth every cent of his 1.25 million dollar bill for infiltrating Michael McKevitt's terrorist operation, Omagh bomb victims said yesterday.
Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic were desperate for the US businessman to provide the evidence needed to jail the Real IRA man, so they were prepared to meet his spiralling cash demands.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife was among the Omagh victims, said he had no problem with the big payments made to the double agent.
He added: "It's money well spent because it got this man convicted."
Crippled by debts, the giant, swaggering businessman with Mohawk blood in his veins and an eye for the ladies was transformed into the most unlikely of moles to penetrate McKevitt's gang.
For well over half of the five-week trial he squeezed his 6ft 5in frame into the witness box and revealed every detail of his association with dissident republican paramilitaries.
Undercover drugs operations, three bankruptcies, four marriages, plenty more girlfriends, a professional wrestling career, fraud inquiries and a gambling boat venture involving the Mafia and Latin American dictators were also examined as Mr Rupert's life was laid bare.
The prosecution praised his staggering bravery while defence lawyers dismissed him as a mercenary fantasist.
But everyone in Dublin's Special Criminal Court was captivated by his testimony.
It was clear that the whole case against McKevitt depended on his evidence.
FBI spy David Rupert was worth every cent of his 1.25 million dollar bill for infiltrating Michael McKevitt's terrorist operation, Omagh bomb victims said yesterday.
Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic were desperate for the US businessman to provide the evidence needed to jail the Real IRA man, so they were prepared to meet his spiralling cash demands.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife was among the Omagh victims, said he had no problem with the big payments made to the double agent.
He added: "It's money well spent because it got this man convicted."
Crippled by debts, the giant, swaggering businessman with Mohawk blood in his veins and an eye for the ladies was transformed into the most unlikely of moles to penetrate McKevitt's gang.
For well over half of the five-week trial he squeezed his 6ft 5in frame into the witness box and revealed every detail of his association with dissident republican paramilitaries.
Undercover drugs operations, three bankruptcies, four marriages, plenty more girlfriends, a professional wrestling career, fraud inquiries and a gambling boat venture involving the Mafia and Latin American dictators were also examined as Mr Rupert's life was laid bare.
The prosecution praised his staggering bravery while defence lawyers dismissed him as a mercenary fantasist.
But everyone in Dublin's Special Criminal Court was captivated by his testimony.
It was clear that the whole case against McKevitt depended on his evidence.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/468
Published Date: 07-Aug-03
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