BOMBING WAS A JOINT OPERATION - COURT TOLD
Bombing was a 'joint operation' - court told
Bereaved husband in court outburst
PRELIMINARY court hearings in a case against a man said to be the leader of the Real IRA opened in Dublin this week. And one of those bereaved in the Omagh bomb atrocity was in court to see Michael McKevitt, from Dundalk, appear.
Mr Laurence Rush, whose wife died, shouted at McKevitt that he was there to see him get justice.
The court heard a claim by McKevitt (51) that the Omagh bombing was carried out jointly by the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA.
McKevitt is the first man to be charged in the Republic with directing terrorist activities.
The charge has been brought against McKevitt, thought to be the leader of the Real IRA, under the terms of legislation introduced in Dublin after the Omagh bombing. He is also charged with being a member of an illegal organisation.
The court was told McKevitt talked of the bombing at a series of meetings he had with American citizen David Rupert. Rupert, who was action for British intelligence and the FBI is set to be the main witness for the prosecution in McKevitt's trial in the Special Criminal Court early next year.
At another of the meetings, McKevitt was said by George Birmingham, prosecuting, to have spoken about an unspecified incident that would "overshadow" Omagh, and on another occasion he referred to a former member of the Foreign Legion named as James Smith, from Massachusetts, and said: "If you wanted to have Tony Blair assassinated, he is your man."
McKevitt was alleged to have told a meeting attended by Mr. Rupert that the Omagh bomb was fused by the Real IRA but that the target had been selected by the Continuity IRA.
This week's proceedings in the Special Criminal Court, dealt with the preliminary hearing in connection with the disclosure of documents relating to the case by the prosecution to McKevitt's defence lawyers.
Ambassador
Among those in the non-jury court, prepared to give evidence, was the British Ambassador to Ireland, Sir Ivor Roberts, marking the first courtroom development of its kind to involve an envoy based in Dublin. He may be called into the witness box.
Also there were two official witnesses from the United States, the assistant director of the counter-terrorism section of the FBI and a field officer.
McKevitt, balding, wearing glasses and carrying a notebook and a pen, blew a kiss towards his wife Bernadette Sands-McKevitt the sister of IRA man and Maze hunger striker, Bobby Sands as he was led into the court.
He was immediately greeted by an intervention from Laurence Rush, whose wife Libbi died in the blast.
Mr. Rush shouted: "My name is Laurence Rush. I will see you get justice for murdering my wife."
Ironically, Mr. Rush then went to sit in the gallery of the court, next to Bernadette Sands-McKevitt.
Defence counsel, Hugh Hartnett, made it clear that some major questions would be raised over the credibility of the chief witness against his client.
He referred to investigations made against Mr. Rupert over allegations of smuggling aliens and drugs in the United States and said there had to be real questions over his entire credibility.
Outlining the case, Mr. Birmingham said Mr. Rupert had first come to Ireland in 1992, when his then girlfriend, who accompanied him, was a political activist from Florida with a strong Irish nationalist interest.
He had subsequently met senior members of the Republican Sinn Fein political party and its military wing, the Continuity IRA.
When the Garda learned of his presence, they contacted the FBI and as a result, Mr. Rupert was later approached by both that agency to work for them and the Garda and was also asked to work on behalf of the Birth Intelligence services.
Mr. Rupert had indicated that he was willing to do so.
He subsequently attended a number of meetings with McKevitt and ruling army council members of the Continuity IRA, during which a number of incidents, including Omagh, attacks in Northern Ireland and the bombing of Hammersmith in West London had been discussed.
The hearing continued yesterday (Wednesday).
Bereaved husband in court outburst
PRELIMINARY court hearings in a case against a man said to be the leader of the Real IRA opened in Dublin this week. And one of those bereaved in the Omagh bomb atrocity was in court to see Michael McKevitt, from Dundalk, appear.
Mr Laurence Rush, whose wife died, shouted at McKevitt that he was there to see him get justice.
The court heard a claim by McKevitt (51) that the Omagh bombing was carried out jointly by the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA.
McKevitt is the first man to be charged in the Republic with directing terrorist activities.
The charge has been brought against McKevitt, thought to be the leader of the Real IRA, under the terms of legislation introduced in Dublin after the Omagh bombing. He is also charged with being a member of an illegal organisation.
The court was told McKevitt talked of the bombing at a series of meetings he had with American citizen David Rupert. Rupert, who was action for British intelligence and the FBI is set to be the main witness for the prosecution in McKevitt's trial in the Special Criminal Court early next year.
At another of the meetings, McKevitt was said by George Birmingham, prosecuting, to have spoken about an unspecified incident that would "overshadow" Omagh, and on another occasion he referred to a former member of the Foreign Legion named as James Smith, from Massachusetts, and said: "If you wanted to have Tony Blair assassinated, he is your man."
McKevitt was alleged to have told a meeting attended by Mr. Rupert that the Omagh bomb was fused by the Real IRA but that the target had been selected by the Continuity IRA.
This week's proceedings in the Special Criminal Court, dealt with the preliminary hearing in connection with the disclosure of documents relating to the case by the prosecution to McKevitt's defence lawyers.
Ambassador
Among those in the non-jury court, prepared to give evidence, was the British Ambassador to Ireland, Sir Ivor Roberts, marking the first courtroom development of its kind to involve an envoy based in Dublin. He may be called into the witness box.
Also there were two official witnesses from the United States, the assistant director of the counter-terrorism section of the FBI and a field officer.
McKevitt, balding, wearing glasses and carrying a notebook and a pen, blew a kiss towards his wife Bernadette Sands-McKevitt the sister of IRA man and Maze hunger striker, Bobby Sands as he was led into the court.
He was immediately greeted by an intervention from Laurence Rush, whose wife Libbi died in the blast.
Mr. Rush shouted: "My name is Laurence Rush. I will see you get justice for murdering my wife."
Ironically, Mr. Rush then went to sit in the gallery of the court, next to Bernadette Sands-McKevitt.
Defence counsel, Hugh Hartnett, made it clear that some major questions would be raised over the credibility of the chief witness against his client.
He referred to investigations made against Mr. Rupert over allegations of smuggling aliens and drugs in the United States and said there had to be real questions over his entire credibility.
Outlining the case, Mr. Birmingham said Mr. Rupert had first come to Ireland in 1992, when his then girlfriend, who accompanied him, was a political activist from Florida with a strong Irish nationalist interest.
He had subsequently met senior members of the Republican Sinn Fein political party and its military wing, the Continuity IRA.
When the Garda learned of his presence, they contacted the FBI and as a result, Mr. Rupert was later approached by both that agency to work for them and the Garda and was also asked to work on behalf of the Birth Intelligence services.
Mr. Rupert had indicated that he was willing to do so.
He subsequently attended a number of meetings with McKevitt and ruling army council members of the Continuity IRA, during which a number of incidents, including Omagh, attacks in Northern Ireland and the bombing of Hammersmith in West London had been discussed.
The hearing continued yesterday (Wednesday).
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1120
Published Date: 10-Oct-02
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