FBI AGENTS EVIDENCE AT CORE OF OMAGH FAMILIES PRIVATE REPORT
FBI agent's evidence at core of Omagh families' private report
by Robert Pollock
EVIDENCE taken from an FBI agent who infiltrated the Provisional IRA in 1994 sits at the core of the Omagh bomb victims' families' privately commissioned report into the 1998 Omagh bombing, it has been revealed this week.
The agent, David Rupert, who was recruited from Chicago, used a pub in the popular seaside resort of Bundoran as a front for his intelligence commitments.
Mr Rupert, whilst regularly corresponding with MI5 and the FBI, spearheaded an active fundraising campaign in America to finance IRA terrorist activities and imported bomb components for their use.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was killed in the atrocity, spoke to the Tyrone Constitution on Monday to provide an insight into the report which he claims "must pave the way for a cross-border public inquiry".
The report, commissioned by Omagh Support and Self Help Group, which was handed over to Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, last month is a compilation of all evidence that has emerged from the multiple Omagh bomb investigations.
From the outset, Mr Gallagher has said that the report will serve to "embarrass" the British and Irish governments due to the "serious deficiencies it reveals".
On issuing a breakdown of some of the intelligence that has been gathered by London-based specialists, Sambei Bridger and Polaine, Mr Gallagher was at pains to highlight Rupert's evidence.
"I have access to over 4,000 emails that Rupert sent his handlers, FBI and MI5, in 1998 and they tell a very interesting story. This was a man who was, and this is taken directly from an email he sent, at the very top of the RIRA in 1998. He mentioned in an email that he was unsure whether or not he was to be indoctrinated into the army council that day. It just goes to show what he was privy to and I also know that he went on scouting missions.
"In an email Rupert sent to his handlers in April 1998, he warned that Omagh was considered a serious target because of its police and military installations. Further emails show Rupert saying that he met with the Omagh bomber and also the Banbridge bomber (New Street, Banbridge, was attacked on August 1 1998).
"What is also very difficult to bear is the fact that senior Garda Siochana officials were fully aware of Rupert's actions and it emerges that he was part of a MI5, FBI and Gardai triangle. We must ask why large amounts of evidence were not passed to the RUCand why RUC detectives only learnt of Rupert's April email in 2006," said Mr Gallagher.
As a result of FBI involvement, Mr Gallagher is currently trying to arrange a meeting with Barbara Stephenson, deputy chief of Mission at the American Embassy in London.
"We think it absolutely necessary to involve the American authorities because of the fact that Rupert's evidence sits at the core of our report.
FBI agent's evidence at core of Omagh families9 private report
We do know that Rupert handed over the emails much to the disgust of the FBI, but that he did so in good faith. Should and hopefully when a public inquiry is given the go ahead, he will be a key player in the process and that implicates the US," he added.
Rupert's evidence proved paramount to the conviction of Michael McKevitt in 2003; McKevitt was jailed for 20 years by the Republic of Ireland's non-jury Special Criminal Court for charges of Real IRA membership and "directing terrorism" - the latter an unprecedented charge at the time of sentencing.
The body of evidence relating to Rupert, is but part of a massive gathering of material that allegedly points to systemic failures on the part of the British and Irish authorities.
Mr Gallagher also highlighted the critical involvement of a Dublin car thief and police informant named Paddy Dixon and his handler, Garda detective John White.
Dixon narrowly avoided death at his Navan safehouse in August last year and the Omagh families have continually asked why he has not been pursued over his former activities.
The report claims Dixon provided intelligence on nine different Real IRA bomb plots between February and August 1998. It alleges he had organised the theft of cars for the terrorist group, which were used to transport bombs and mortar rockets into Northern Ireland.
"In the lead up to Omagh Dixon was asked to get two cars for a job in the north. On the Wednesday he received a call from the RIRA to say that cars had been secured and that he was not to act. Dixon conveyed this to White who subsequently arranged a meeting with his senior, and a man called Patrick Roche," said Mr Gallagher.
"At a pub on the outskirts of Dublin, White explained to the senior that Dixon was not supplying the cars and at that point, the senior reportedly said that it would be for the better as Dixon's credibility was beginning to wear thin due to the number of recent successes. At that point, the senior said that they would 'let this one through'. White thought he was joking but he wasn't. We know that a bomb went through and although we cannot say for certainty it was the one that came to Omagh it seems very coincidental," he added.
Mr Gallagher made clear that it is information such as that relating to Rupert and Dixon that he wants to enter the minds of the people of Omagh.
He has written to the Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, stating that he wants people to learn of the truth.
Their quest for a cross-border inquiry continues to gather momentum and further progress was made last week when the aforementioned report was handed over to Irish Justice Minister, Alan Shatter.
During the meeting the delegation showed Mr Shatter a DVD of Mr Kenny offering his commitment to the Omagh families prior to his election to Taoiseach.
Mr Gallagher described the snippet as "small but powerful" and hopes that the Fine Gael leader can honour his word.
In his closing remarks, Mr Gallagher stated that an inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing did not have to be a repeat of the Saville inquiry.
"We are often faced with the fact that Bloody Sunday was the longest running and most expensive inquiry in history, but I believe we can make our own history. We are confident that we can conduct the least expensive and the quickest inquiry. The evidence is here and there is only a small number of people from both governments that would need to come forward.
"Up until now the investigations have been piecemeal and have held very few powers, like that of the Nally report for example. We know that we aren't going to get a conviction but we want the truth, we want justice. Omagh needs an inquiry and this report proves it," he added.
The Omagh Support and Self Help Group recently received a letter from PSNI Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, stating that he was considering a meeting with the representatives.
Mr Paterson, who will ultimately decide whether an inquiry should be granted, stated in the House of Commons that he wishes for the families to meet with both Mr Baggott and Justice Minister, David Ford, prior to reaching his decision.
by Robert Pollock
EVIDENCE taken from an FBI agent who infiltrated the Provisional IRA in 1994 sits at the core of the Omagh bomb victims' families' privately commissioned report into the 1998 Omagh bombing, it has been revealed this week.
The agent, David Rupert, who was recruited from Chicago, used a pub in the popular seaside resort of Bundoran as a front for his intelligence commitments.
Mr Rupert, whilst regularly corresponding with MI5 and the FBI, spearheaded an active fundraising campaign in America to finance IRA terrorist activities and imported bomb components for their use.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was killed in the atrocity, spoke to the Tyrone Constitution on Monday to provide an insight into the report which he claims "must pave the way for a cross-border public inquiry".
The report, commissioned by Omagh Support and Self Help Group, which was handed over to Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, last month is a compilation of all evidence that has emerged from the multiple Omagh bomb investigations.
From the outset, Mr Gallagher has said that the report will serve to "embarrass" the British and Irish governments due to the "serious deficiencies it reveals".
On issuing a breakdown of some of the intelligence that has been gathered by London-based specialists, Sambei Bridger and Polaine, Mr Gallagher was at pains to highlight Rupert's evidence.
"I have access to over 4,000 emails that Rupert sent his handlers, FBI and MI5, in 1998 and they tell a very interesting story. This was a man who was, and this is taken directly from an email he sent, at the very top of the RIRA in 1998. He mentioned in an email that he was unsure whether or not he was to be indoctrinated into the army council that day. It just goes to show what he was privy to and I also know that he went on scouting missions.
"In an email Rupert sent to his handlers in April 1998, he warned that Omagh was considered a serious target because of its police and military installations. Further emails show Rupert saying that he met with the Omagh bomber and also the Banbridge bomber (New Street, Banbridge, was attacked on August 1 1998).
"What is also very difficult to bear is the fact that senior Garda Siochana officials were fully aware of Rupert's actions and it emerges that he was part of a MI5, FBI and Gardai triangle. We must ask why large amounts of evidence were not passed to the RUCand why RUC detectives only learnt of Rupert's April email in 2006," said Mr Gallagher.
As a result of FBI involvement, Mr Gallagher is currently trying to arrange a meeting with Barbara Stephenson, deputy chief of Mission at the American Embassy in London.
"We think it absolutely necessary to involve the American authorities because of the fact that Rupert's evidence sits at the core of our report.
FBI agent's evidence at core of Omagh families9 private report
We do know that Rupert handed over the emails much to the disgust of the FBI, but that he did so in good faith. Should and hopefully when a public inquiry is given the go ahead, he will be a key player in the process and that implicates the US," he added.
Rupert's evidence proved paramount to the conviction of Michael McKevitt in 2003; McKevitt was jailed for 20 years by the Republic of Ireland's non-jury Special Criminal Court for charges of Real IRA membership and "directing terrorism" - the latter an unprecedented charge at the time of sentencing.
The body of evidence relating to Rupert, is but part of a massive gathering of material that allegedly points to systemic failures on the part of the British and Irish authorities.
Mr Gallagher also highlighted the critical involvement of a Dublin car thief and police informant named Paddy Dixon and his handler, Garda detective John White.
Dixon narrowly avoided death at his Navan safehouse in August last year and the Omagh families have continually asked why he has not been pursued over his former activities.
The report claims Dixon provided intelligence on nine different Real IRA bomb plots between February and August 1998. It alleges he had organised the theft of cars for the terrorist group, which were used to transport bombs and mortar rockets into Northern Ireland.
"In the lead up to Omagh Dixon was asked to get two cars for a job in the north. On the Wednesday he received a call from the RIRA to say that cars had been secured and that he was not to act. Dixon conveyed this to White who subsequently arranged a meeting with his senior, and a man called Patrick Roche," said Mr Gallagher.
"At a pub on the outskirts of Dublin, White explained to the senior that Dixon was not supplying the cars and at that point, the senior reportedly said that it would be for the better as Dixon's credibility was beginning to wear thin due to the number of recent successes. At that point, the senior said that they would 'let this one through'. White thought he was joking but he wasn't. We know that a bomb went through and although we cannot say for certainty it was the one that came to Omagh it seems very coincidental," he added.
Mr Gallagher made clear that it is information such as that relating to Rupert and Dixon that he wants to enter the minds of the people of Omagh.
He has written to the Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, stating that he wants people to learn of the truth.
Their quest for a cross-border inquiry continues to gather momentum and further progress was made last week when the aforementioned report was handed over to Irish Justice Minister, Alan Shatter.
During the meeting the delegation showed Mr Shatter a DVD of Mr Kenny offering his commitment to the Omagh families prior to his election to Taoiseach.
Mr Gallagher described the snippet as "small but powerful" and hopes that the Fine Gael leader can honour his word.
In his closing remarks, Mr Gallagher stated that an inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing did not have to be a repeat of the Saville inquiry.
"We are often faced with the fact that Bloody Sunday was the longest running and most expensive inquiry in history, but I believe we can make our own history. We are confident that we can conduct the least expensive and the quickest inquiry. The evidence is here and there is only a small number of people from both governments that would need to come forward.
"Up until now the investigations have been piecemeal and have held very few powers, like that of the Nally report for example. We know that we aren't going to get a conviction but we want the truth, we want justice. Omagh needs an inquiry and this report proves it," he added.
The Omagh Support and Self Help Group recently received a letter from PSNI Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, stating that he was considering a meeting with the representatives.
Mr Paterson, who will ultimately decide whether an inquiry should be granted, stated in the House of Commons that he wishes for the families to meet with both Mr Baggott and Justice Minister, David Ford, prior to reaching his decision.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/2024
Published Date: 26-Jul-12
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