MCKEVITT'S SACKING OF LEGAL TEAM BRINGS TRIAL TO SWIFT END
McKevitt's sacking of legal team brings trial to swift end
THE trial of alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt concluded yesterday after the last of the witnesses gave evidence.
A decision is expected from Dublin Special Criminal Court's three judges in two weeks.
The trial came to a speedy end after McKevitt sacked his legal team last week.
Since the defence lawyers. were dismissed, the procession of Garda witnesses gave evidence without lengthy cross-examination.
The 53-year-old remained in his cell beneath the courtroom, continuing what he described as his "dignified peaceful protest".
Last Thursday, McKevitt denounced the proceedings as a political show trial.
The following day he refused to come into the courtroom, saying he wished to take no further part in the trial.
Former Detective Garda Patrick McGurren told the court he had seen a previous girlfriend of the chief prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, speaking at a hunger strike commemoration in 1989.
Mr Rupert spent 15 days in the witness box explaining how he infiltrated dissident republican groups in Ireland for the FBI and MI5.
The last witness called by the prosecution was former Garda Sergeant Joe McCarron.
He said that in 1996 David Rupert was in charge of a licensed premises in Co Leitrim.
He said he met the agent on a couple of occasions.
Since no defence team was present, the prosecution did not sum up its case.
Before the judges retired, prosecution lawyer George Birmingham produced a document outlining the options available to McKevitt.
These included calling Assistant Garda Commissioner Dermot Jennings and a number of FBI and MI5 agents to give evidence.
THE trial of alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt concluded yesterday after the last of the witnesses gave evidence.
A decision is expected from Dublin Special Criminal Court's three judges in two weeks.
The trial came to a speedy end after McKevitt sacked his legal team last week.
Since the defence lawyers. were dismissed, the procession of Garda witnesses gave evidence without lengthy cross-examination.
The 53-year-old remained in his cell beneath the courtroom, continuing what he described as his "dignified peaceful protest".
Last Thursday, McKevitt denounced the proceedings as a political show trial.
The following day he refused to come into the courtroom, saying he wished to take no further part in the trial.
Former Detective Garda Patrick McGurren told the court he had seen a previous girlfriend of the chief prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, speaking at a hunger strike commemoration in 1989.
Mr Rupert spent 15 days in the witness box explaining how he infiltrated dissident republican groups in Ireland for the FBI and MI5.
The last witness called by the prosecution was former Garda Sergeant Joe McCarron.
He said that in 1996 David Rupert was in charge of a licensed premises in Co Leitrim.
He said he met the agent on a couple of occasions.
Since no defence team was present, the prosecution did not sum up its case.
Before the judges retired, prosecution lawyer George Birmingham produced a document outlining the options available to McKevitt.
These included calling Assistant Garda Commissioner Dermot Jennings and a number of FBI and MI5 agents to give evidence.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/519
Published Date: 29-Jul-03
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