MI5 DEAL FEARS IN TRIAL OF MCKEVITT
MI5 deal fears in trial of McKevitt
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THERE are fears that Michael McKevitt, the founder of the Real IRA which planted the Omagh bomb, could serve less than two years in jail in a deal designed to cover up MI5's role in Ireland.
As McKevitt's pre-trial got under way in Dublin this week, it emerged that he may well end up facing a less serious charge than that of directing acts of terrorism.
If so, the alleged mastermind of the Omagh bombing which killed 29 people and two unborn children and left hundreds seriously injured and traumatised, could be out of prison in a very short time.
It is believed that the Irish authorities have decided to charge him with just membership of the Real IRA.
Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing condemned any deal last night and claimed it was to prevent "dirt coming out about events surrounding the bombing".
McKevitt had been facing up to 15 years in prison on charges of directing acts of terrorism. He has been held on remand for two years in the run-up to this week's court hearing.
There is mounting concern within the Republic's Department of Justice and the Garda Siochana that a large scale trial on directing acts of terrorism would expose MI5 activities in the Republic.
Garda sources admit that FBI agent David Rupert's testimony would "open up a can of worms" regarding British Intelligence's recruitment of informers in Ireland.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin held a special hearing this week to look at legal issues pertaining to the McKevitt trial.
McKevitt, balding, wearing glasses and carrying a note book and a pen blew a kiss towards his wife Bernadette Sands McKevitt sister of the late IRA MP Bobby Sands who died on hunger strike in 1981 as he was led into the court.
He was immediately greeted by an intervention from Laurence Rush whose wife Elizabeth died at Omagh.
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, close to Bernadette Sands McKevitt.
Defence counsel Hugh Hartnett made it clear that major questions would be raised over the credibility of the chief witness David Rupert against his client.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THERE are fears that Michael McKevitt, the founder of the Real IRA which planted the Omagh bomb, could serve less than two years in jail in a deal designed to cover up MI5's role in Ireland.
As McKevitt's pre-trial got under way in Dublin this week, it emerged that he may well end up facing a less serious charge than that of directing acts of terrorism.
If so, the alleged mastermind of the Omagh bombing which killed 29 people and two unborn children and left hundreds seriously injured and traumatised, could be out of prison in a very short time.
It is believed that the Irish authorities have decided to charge him with just membership of the Real IRA.
Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing condemned any deal last night and claimed it was to prevent "dirt coming out about events surrounding the bombing".
McKevitt had been facing up to 15 years in prison on charges of directing acts of terrorism. He has been held on remand for two years in the run-up to this week's court hearing.
There is mounting concern within the Republic's Department of Justice and the Garda Siochana that a large scale trial on directing acts of terrorism would expose MI5 activities in the Republic.
Garda sources admit that FBI agent David Rupert's testimony would "open up a can of worms" regarding British Intelligence's recruitment of informers in Ireland.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin held a special hearing this week to look at legal issues pertaining to the McKevitt trial.
McKevitt, balding, wearing glasses and carrying a note book and a pen blew a kiss towards his wife Bernadette Sands McKevitt sister of the late IRA MP Bobby Sands who died on hunger strike in 1981 as he was led into the court.
He was immediately greeted by an intervention from Laurence Rush whose wife Elizabeth died at Omagh.
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, close to Bernadette Sands McKevitt.
Defence counsel Hugh Hartnett made it clear that major questions would be raised over the credibility of the chief witness David Rupert against his client.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1107
Published Date: 10-Oct-02
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