YOU'RE SCUM MCKEVITT TOLD AS HE SACKS HIS LAWYERS
You're scum, McKevitt told as he sacks his lawyers
ALLEGED Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt sacked his legal team yesterday and declared that he will not take any further part in his trial in the Republic for directing terrorism.
As McKevitt was being led from the court, Laurence Rush, whose wife, Elizabeth, was one of those killed in the Omagh bombing, shouted at him: "You are nothing but scum."
McKevitt told Dublin's Special Criminal Court that he had been forced to sack his barristers following two failed attempts to have the hearing halted.
Three judges had rejected an attempt by the defence to stop the trial on the grounds that McKevitt's case had been irreparably damaged due to the non-disclosure of surveillance documents they claimed could have cleared him.
As all his legal representatives walked out of the courtroom, McKevitt, 53, stood up and said: "I will not participate any further in this political show trial and am now withdrawing myself with my dignity intact."
McKevitt shook his head every time the judge asked him if he wanted to cross-examine any of the witnesses until, finally, he said: "I have stated I am here under protest and I don't wish to ask anybody anything."
Defence lawyers had claimed that surveillance papers which they were not told about until after the trial began could have provided an alibi for McKevitt, from Blackrock, Dundalk.
He denies directing the Real IRA and being a member of the terror organisation which killed 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity.
The evidence threw into confusion part of the testimony from the star prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, about attending a meeting of the dissident republican group's "army council" in February, 2000.
The judges rejected two attempts to halt the trial, ruling that the issue could be dealt with by recalling Mr Rupert to the stand.
Senior defence barrister Hugh Hartnett then told the court: "Our instructions have been withdrawn by our client."
McKevitt then read out a statement outlining the reasons for dispensing with the lawyers' services.
He said: "Mr Rupert alleged I attended an army council meeting on February, 17 2000.
"However, recently disclosed Garda surveillance situated me in my home on that date.
"Why was this withheld for two-and-a-half-years? "
He said that his solicitors wrote to state prosecutors 12 months ago requesting access to all relevant surveillance documents.
In October last year, detectives wrote back stressing that all outstanding material was either irrelevant or being withheld on the grounds of national security, he said.
According to McKevitt, recent disclosure had "rendered worthless the assurances" of the Garda.
McKevitt accused military intelligence of deliberate interference in order to strengthen Mr Rupert's credibility and also claimed that detectives had told him that his arrest had been "a political order from on-high".
He told the court: "The discrepancies between certain MI5 documents which refer to his (Mr Rupert's) criminal past and his evidence before this court is simply beyond belief."
Even though he did not want to dismiss his legal team, he said, the decision had been forced upon him.
"The prosecution of this case was founded on concealment and non-disclosure," he claimed.
After the judges considered the legal implications, Mr Justice Johnson said: "The court is satisfied that he waived his right to further represent himself both intelligently and understandably.
"Clearly, the decision was not reached lightly because it was deliberated over and read from a tight script."
The trial was adjourned until today.
ALLEGED Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt sacked his legal team yesterday and declared that he will not take any further part in his trial in the Republic for directing terrorism.
As McKevitt was being led from the court, Laurence Rush, whose wife, Elizabeth, was one of those killed in the Omagh bombing, shouted at him: "You are nothing but scum."
McKevitt told Dublin's Special Criminal Court that he had been forced to sack his barristers following two failed attempts to have the hearing halted.
Three judges had rejected an attempt by the defence to stop the trial on the grounds that McKevitt's case had been irreparably damaged due to the non-disclosure of surveillance documents they claimed could have cleared him.
As all his legal representatives walked out of the courtroom, McKevitt, 53, stood up and said: "I will not participate any further in this political show trial and am now withdrawing myself with my dignity intact."
McKevitt shook his head every time the judge asked him if he wanted to cross-examine any of the witnesses until, finally, he said: "I have stated I am here under protest and I don't wish to ask anybody anything."
Defence lawyers had claimed that surveillance papers which they were not told about until after the trial began could have provided an alibi for McKevitt, from Blackrock, Dundalk.
He denies directing the Real IRA and being a member of the terror organisation which killed 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity.
The evidence threw into confusion part of the testimony from the star prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, about attending a meeting of the dissident republican group's "army council" in February, 2000.
The judges rejected two attempts to halt the trial, ruling that the issue could be dealt with by recalling Mr Rupert to the stand.
Senior defence barrister Hugh Hartnett then told the court: "Our instructions have been withdrawn by our client."
McKevitt then read out a statement outlining the reasons for dispensing with the lawyers' services.
He said: "Mr Rupert alleged I attended an army council meeting on February, 17 2000.
"However, recently disclosed Garda surveillance situated me in my home on that date.
"Why was this withheld for two-and-a-half-years? "
He said that his solicitors wrote to state prosecutors 12 months ago requesting access to all relevant surveillance documents.
In October last year, detectives wrote back stressing that all outstanding material was either irrelevant or being withheld on the grounds of national security, he said.
According to McKevitt, recent disclosure had "rendered worthless the assurances" of the Garda.
McKevitt accused military intelligence of deliberate interference in order to strengthen Mr Rupert's credibility and also claimed that detectives had told him that his arrest had been "a political order from on-high".
He told the court: "The discrepancies between certain MI5 documents which refer to his (Mr Rupert's) criminal past and his evidence before this court is simply beyond belief."
Even though he did not want to dismiss his legal team, he said, the decision had been forced upon him.
"The prosecution of this case was founded on concealment and non-disclosure," he claimed.
After the judges considered the legal implications, Mr Justice Johnson said: "The court is satisfied that he waived his right to further represent himself both intelligently and understandably.
"Clearly, the decision was not reached lightly because it was deliberated over and read from a tight script."
The trial was adjourned until today.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/518
Published Date: 25-Jul-03
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