MCKEVITT TRIAL LIKELY TO FACE DELAY
McKevitt trial likely to face delay
THE trial of the alleged leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, is unlikely to go ahead in June, his lawyer has told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
Mr James McGuill, McKevitt's solicitor, told the court that the defence wanted to make an application for further documentation which is critical to the preparation of his defence.
Last December the court provisionally fixed June 4 as the date for McKevtt's trial, which is expected to last at least four weeks.
Mr McGuill told the court today he did not believe the defence would be ready to meet the case in June.
REMANDED
The court remanded McKevitt in continuing custody until February 27 when the case will be mentioned again and it fixed April 30 as the date for hearing the defence application for disclosure.
The court was told earlier that the defence has already been furnished with over 2,000 e-mails relating to the case by the prosecution.
Michael McKevitt, 51, of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth is charged that between August 29,1999 and March 28th, 2001, within the Republic of Ireland, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army and that he directed its activities.
It is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under new legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing and anyone convicted of the offence faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
THE trial of the alleged leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, is unlikely to go ahead in June, his lawyer has told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
Mr James McGuill, McKevitt's solicitor, told the court that the defence wanted to make an application for further documentation which is critical to the preparation of his defence.
Last December the court provisionally fixed June 4 as the date for McKevtt's trial, which is expected to last at least four weeks.
Mr McGuill told the court today he did not believe the defence would be ready to meet the case in June.
REMANDED
The court remanded McKevitt in continuing custody until February 27 when the case will be mentioned again and it fixed April 30 as the date for hearing the defence application for disclosure.
The court was told earlier that the defence has already been furnished with over 2,000 e-mails relating to the case by the prosecution.
Michael McKevitt, 51, of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth is charged that between August 29,1999 and March 28th, 2001, within the Republic of Ireland, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army and that he directed its activities.
It is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under new legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing and anyone convicted of the offence faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0965
Published Date: 14-Feb-02
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