KEY WITNESS IN MCKEVITT TRIAL WANTS 2M TO TESTIFY IN COURT
Key witness in McKevitt trial wants �2m to testify in court
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
A KEY witness in the forthcoming trial of Michael McKevitt, the alleged Real IRA leader accused of directing terrorism, including the August 1998 bombing of Omagh, has demanded over $3 million to testify in the case,
The American FBI operative David Rupert, who is supposed to have infiltrated the Real IRA with promises of money for that organisation from the US, had been vaunted as a star witness with inside information on the Real-IRA. His evidence, it is suggested, would send high ranking members to prison and cause further irreparable damage to the credibility the dissident republican group which bombed Omagh.
However, as the trial of Michael McKevitt was due to get underway in the Republic last month, proceedings were halted when the defence counsel applied for an adjournment on the grounds that the FBI had not provided vital information which the defence hoped to use to call into question Rupert's integrity as a witness.
The adjournment was granted and the judge warned the state prosecutors that if he FBI did not produce the relevant details the trail was in danger of collapsing.
With reports in American newspapers that suggest that the FBI has reached a financial deal with Rupert so as to ensure his testimony the story has taken a new twist. If it can be proven that Rupert's testimony was paid for, the could compromise him as a witness and what legal experts are saying is a shaky trial could collapse. Last weekend, the Dublin based Sunday. Business Post claimed to have seen MI5 documents suggesting that Rupert was used as a spy in the Republic without the authorisation of the Southern government.
Rupert had worked out of Donegal and Leitrim setting up bogus meetings with dissident republicans in places such as Bundoran. He is also believed to have taken party in 'dummy' runs to Omagh prior to the Omagh bombing. Indeed, the family of the one of the victims believes he was spotted in the Market Street area just weeks before the Omagh bombing in August 1998.
It is believed that McKevitt's defence will draw heavily upon Rupert's very shady past in which he is believed to have been a small time criminal deeply indebted to the US Internal Revenue Department.
A US newspaper, the Chicago Sun Times, reported that McKevitt had alerted MI5 that the Real IRA were seeking a state sponsor, perhaps Iraq or Libya.
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
A KEY witness in the forthcoming trial of Michael McKevitt, the alleged Real IRA leader accused of directing terrorism, including the August 1998 bombing of Omagh, has demanded over $3 million to testify in the case,
The American FBI operative David Rupert, who is supposed to have infiltrated the Real IRA with promises of money for that organisation from the US, had been vaunted as a star witness with inside information on the Real-IRA. His evidence, it is suggested, would send high ranking members to prison and cause further irreparable damage to the credibility the dissident republican group which bombed Omagh.
However, as the trial of Michael McKevitt was due to get underway in the Republic last month, proceedings were halted when the defence counsel applied for an adjournment on the grounds that the FBI had not provided vital information which the defence hoped to use to call into question Rupert's integrity as a witness.
The adjournment was granted and the judge warned the state prosecutors that if he FBI did not produce the relevant details the trail was in danger of collapsing.
With reports in American newspapers that suggest that the FBI has reached a financial deal with Rupert so as to ensure his testimony the story has taken a new twist. If it can be proven that Rupert's testimony was paid for, the could compromise him as a witness and what legal experts are saying is a shaky trial could collapse. Last weekend, the Dublin based Sunday. Business Post claimed to have seen MI5 documents suggesting that Rupert was used as a spy in the Republic without the authorisation of the Southern government.
Rupert had worked out of Donegal and Leitrim setting up bogus meetings with dissident republicans in places such as Bundoran. He is also believed to have taken party in 'dummy' runs to Omagh prior to the Omagh bombing. Indeed, the family of the one of the victims believes he was spotted in the Market Street area just weeks before the Omagh bombing in August 1998.
It is believed that McKevitt's defence will draw heavily upon Rupert's very shady past in which he is believed to have been a small time criminal deeply indebted to the US Internal Revenue Department.
A US newspaper, the Chicago Sun Times, reported that McKevitt had alerted MI5 that the Real IRA were seeking a state sponsor, perhaps Iraq or Libya.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1017
Published Date: 16-May-02
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