TERROR CHIEF'S BID TO ACCESS SECURITY DOCUMENTS FAILS
Terror chief's bid to access security documents fails
CONVICTED terrorist chief Michael McKevitt has failed in his High Court bid to gain access to top secret security service documents.
In a ruling at the Omagh bomb civil trial yesterday, Mr Justice Morgan dismissed a disclosure application lodged by McKevitt as part of attempts to destroy the credibility of an FBI spy who infiltrated the Real IRA.
The jailed paramilitary leader, one of five men being sued over the August 1998 atrocity which killed 29 people, had claimed his right to a fair trial was damaged by withholding all relevant material on David Rupert.
Rupert, an American trucker-turned intelligence agent who also collaborated with the British Secret Service, was a key prosecution witness when McKevitt was found guilty of directing terrorism in 2003.
Although the spy is now living in hiding and will not be testifying at the landmark claim for millions of pounds in damages against McKevitt, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly, Mr Justice Morgan has already ruled that his hearsay evidence can be introduced.
CONVICTED terrorist chief Michael McKevitt has failed in his High Court bid to gain access to top secret security service documents.
In a ruling at the Omagh bomb civil trial yesterday, Mr Justice Morgan dismissed a disclosure application lodged by McKevitt as part of attempts to destroy the credibility of an FBI spy who infiltrated the Real IRA.
The jailed paramilitary leader, one of five men being sued over the August 1998 atrocity which killed 29 people, had claimed his right to a fair trial was damaged by withholding all relevant material on David Rupert.
Rupert, an American trucker-turned intelligence agent who also collaborated with the British Secret Service, was a key prosecution witness when McKevitt was found guilty of directing terrorism in 2003.
Although the spy is now living in hiding and will not be testifying at the landmark claim for millions of pounds in damages against McKevitt, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly, Mr Justice Morgan has already ruled that his hearsay evidence can be introduced.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/754
Published Date: 09-May-08
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