MCKEVITT TO SUE OVER MEDIA REPORTS
McKevitt to sue over media reports
by Brian Carroll and Elaine Keogh
THE self-confessed suspect for the Omagh bombing, Mickey McKevitt, is planning to sue a number of media organisations over reports that appeared in the aftermath of last Saturday's tragedy.
Legal proceedings will also be brought against the English landlords who lease a business premises to his partner Bernadette Sands in Dundalk.
Ms Sands was allegedly prevented from entering her place of work, a T-shirt and souvenir shop, by representatives of the landlords.
Her legal representatives confirmed yesterday that civil proceedings would be brought against the owners.
When she arrived at the centre yesterday morning there was a garda presence outside the main entrance to the mall.
Papers were handed to Ms Sands and she then left the shopping centre.
The couple have instructed their Dundalk-based solicitor, James MacGuill, to being proceedings to defend their name.
In a statement sent to a number of media organisations yesterday, Mr MacGuill said:
"We have been consulted by Michael and Bernadette McKevitt in relation to various false and defamatory statements published about them in the media in recent days.
"We have advised our clients that in the light of the gravity of the defamatory material, it will be necessary for them to take proceedings and they have instructed us to take the necessary action."
Mr MacGuill also said the McKevitts were being inundated with requests for interviews from the media on an almost hourly basis.
"Our clients should not be approached for interviews, as no interview will be forthcoming.
"Our clients have indicated that any further contact should be through us," Mr MacGuill said.
Contacted for further comment, Mr MacGuill said a wide range of publications would be sued: "I can't say how many or which ones at this stage, but certainly there will be quite a number of Irish and English media."
Mr MacGuill confirmed that Bernadette Sands McKevitt, the Vice-Chairperson of the 32-County Sovereignty Committee, had been prevented from entering her place of work yesterday morning.
This followed days of alleged anonymous death threats and verbal abuse.
"She was prevented from going to the shop by representatives of the landlord. We are in contact with them and it will also form the subject of legal proceedings if necessary," Mr MacGuill said.
He would not confirm whether he had acted for the McKevitts in the past in any previous legal actions: "That would form part of client confidentiality."
This afternoon a massive crowd is expected to gather for a peace demonstration in Dundalk.
The committee organising it say they will be sending a clear message of revulsion at the atrocity in Omagh, of the community sympathy with the families who lost loved one, of solidarity with the peace process and to demonstrate their disgust at those who, without any mandate, are bringing disgrace to the town of Dundalk.
Another objective of the demonstration is to say directly to the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Real IRA that there will be no hiding place in Dundalk or Co Louth for their activities, and there is full support for the gardai, police and two governments to take whatever action is necessary to crush the activities of those organisations still involved in violence and terror.
The silent march from Roden Place to the Market Square will start at 5pm and up to 10,000 people are expected.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
by Brian Carroll and Elaine Keogh
THE self-confessed suspect for the Omagh bombing, Mickey McKevitt, is planning to sue a number of media organisations over reports that appeared in the aftermath of last Saturday's tragedy.
Legal proceedings will also be brought against the English landlords who lease a business premises to his partner Bernadette Sands in Dundalk.
Ms Sands was allegedly prevented from entering her place of work, a T-shirt and souvenir shop, by representatives of the landlords.
Her legal representatives confirmed yesterday that civil proceedings would be brought against the owners.
When she arrived at the centre yesterday morning there was a garda presence outside the main entrance to the mall.
Papers were handed to Ms Sands and she then left the shopping centre.
The couple have instructed their Dundalk-based solicitor, James MacGuill, to being proceedings to defend their name.
In a statement sent to a number of media organisations yesterday, Mr MacGuill said:
"We have been consulted by Michael and Bernadette McKevitt in relation to various false and defamatory statements published about them in the media in recent days.
"We have advised our clients that in the light of the gravity of the defamatory material, it will be necessary for them to take proceedings and they have instructed us to take the necessary action."
Mr MacGuill also said the McKevitts were being inundated with requests for interviews from the media on an almost hourly basis.
"Our clients should not be approached for interviews, as no interview will be forthcoming.
"Our clients have indicated that any further contact should be through us," Mr MacGuill said.
Contacted for further comment, Mr MacGuill said a wide range of publications would be sued: "I can't say how many or which ones at this stage, but certainly there will be quite a number of Irish and English media."
Mr MacGuill confirmed that Bernadette Sands McKevitt, the Vice-Chairperson of the 32-County Sovereignty Committee, had been prevented from entering her place of work yesterday morning.
This followed days of alleged anonymous death threats and verbal abuse.
"She was prevented from going to the shop by representatives of the landlord. We are in contact with them and it will also form the subject of legal proceedings if necessary," Mr MacGuill said.
He would not confirm whether he had acted for the McKevitts in the past in any previous legal actions: "That would form part of client confidentiality."
This afternoon a massive crowd is expected to gather for a peace demonstration in Dundalk.
The committee organising it say they will be sending a clear message of revulsion at the atrocity in Omagh, of the community sympathy with the families who lost loved one, of solidarity with the peace process and to demonstrate their disgust at those who, without any mandate, are bringing disgrace to the town of Dundalk.
Another objective of the demonstration is to say directly to the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Real IRA that there will be no hiding place in Dundalk or Co Louth for their activities, and there is full support for the gardai, police and two governments to take whatever action is necessary to crush the activities of those organisations still involved in violence and terror.
The silent march from Roden Place to the Market Square will start at 5pm and up to 10,000 people are expected.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/147
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
Related Images
