OMAGH BOMBERS THREAT TO KEY WITNESS, COURT TOLD
Omagh bombers threat to key witness, court told
THE Real IRA the group behind the Omagh bombing went to great lengths to locate the key witness in the trial of its alleged leader Michael McKevitt, a Dublin court heard on Thursday last.
A top Garda chief said the threat to the life of American David Rupert and his family was very real because of his decision to take part in the trial.
Rupert, who was recruited by the FBI and British intelligence to relay information to them after infiltrating the hardline Real IRA and the Continuity IRA, is said to have demanded a two million dollar fee to testify against Michael McKevitt.
Garda Chief Supt, Martin Callinan was giving evidence on the third day of a preliminary hearing of an application by Mr McKevitt's defence for disclosure of material in advance of his trial. McKevitt's trial is due to go ahead early next year and is expected to last six weeks.
The 51-year-old from Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, is charged with directing a terrorist organisation and being a member of the same organisation.
This is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing and anyone convicted of the offence faces a maximum of life imprisonment.
Det. Chief Supt Martin Callinan of the security and intelligence section of Garda Headquarters said his role was the monitoring of subversive and criminal activity in this jurisdiction.
He said he had fears for the safety of Mr Rupert the chief prosecution witness against McKevitt. "As a result of Mr Rupert's involvement in this case I view the threat to his life and members of his family as being very real and very substantial," he said.
He said there was no doubt that 'extreme efforts' were still being made by the Real IRA to find out Mr Rupert's whereabouts. To identify any of these people, either personnel from the British Security Service or people who have supplied information in relation to the activities of McKevitt, without a shadow of a doubt, their lives would be in great danger if their identities or whereabouts were to be exposed."
The preliminary heard that American Rupert allegedly attended several meetings of the Real IRA army council at which McKevitt was present.
Rupert is expected to tell the trial when it gets under way that McKevitt asked him to get material from the United States.
McKevitt's lawyers have argued that Mr Rupert had a long time criminal involvement and they are seeking all material relating to his business dealings and criminal investigations into his activities.
Supt Callinan said there were many files on McKevitt spanning 30 years of the Troubles and if they were disclosed to the defence, even in the form of a 'descriptive part', it would identify the individuals concerned.
He said he had no doubt of the capabilities of the Real IRA or the measures it went to identify people supplying intelligence to the Garda Siochana.
Cross examining, Counsel for McKevitt, Hugh Hartnett, SC, asked the officer if the gardai were involved in the review of material in the possession of the British Security service. Mr Callinan denied this although he said he had several meetings with the British security service about the case.
He said the British had 'very real concerns' about he lives of its personnel 'and the methodology they adopt in performing their duties in the fight against terrorism'.
He said he had pointed out to the Security Service the importance of making available to the court all matters that were relevant to the prosecution of McKevitt.
He said the nature of the case was well known to the British authorities who had agreed with the FBI to allow an intelligence asset to come forward and give evidence about McKevitt directing terrorism.
FBI officer, James Krupkowski, admitted to the court that the DPP had not been furnished with all files relating to Mr Rupert. He said the decision on what information to release to the Irish authorities was taken by up to 10 people including himself.
Mr Krupkowski told Mr Hartnett that there was a schedule of material that had been edited but he refused to hand it over because it was 'classified'.
He said he could not recall any of the withheld information dealing with Mr Rupert's alleged criminality but agreed it was possible.
THE Real IRA the group behind the Omagh bombing went to great lengths to locate the key witness in the trial of its alleged leader Michael McKevitt, a Dublin court heard on Thursday last.
A top Garda chief said the threat to the life of American David Rupert and his family was very real because of his decision to take part in the trial.
Rupert, who was recruited by the FBI and British intelligence to relay information to them after infiltrating the hardline Real IRA and the Continuity IRA, is said to have demanded a two million dollar fee to testify against Michael McKevitt.
Garda Chief Supt, Martin Callinan was giving evidence on the third day of a preliminary hearing of an application by Mr McKevitt's defence for disclosure of material in advance of his trial. McKevitt's trial is due to go ahead early next year and is expected to last six weeks.
The 51-year-old from Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, is charged with directing a terrorist organisation and being a member of the same organisation.
This is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing and anyone convicted of the offence faces a maximum of life imprisonment.
Det. Chief Supt Martin Callinan of the security and intelligence section of Garda Headquarters said his role was the monitoring of subversive and criminal activity in this jurisdiction.
He said he had fears for the safety of Mr Rupert the chief prosecution witness against McKevitt. "As a result of Mr Rupert's involvement in this case I view the threat to his life and members of his family as being very real and very substantial," he said.
He said there was no doubt that 'extreme efforts' were still being made by the Real IRA to find out Mr Rupert's whereabouts. To identify any of these people, either personnel from the British Security Service or people who have supplied information in relation to the activities of McKevitt, without a shadow of a doubt, their lives would be in great danger if their identities or whereabouts were to be exposed."
The preliminary heard that American Rupert allegedly attended several meetings of the Real IRA army council at which McKevitt was present.
Rupert is expected to tell the trial when it gets under way that McKevitt asked him to get material from the United States.
McKevitt's lawyers have argued that Mr Rupert had a long time criminal involvement and they are seeking all material relating to his business dealings and criminal investigations into his activities.
Supt Callinan said there were many files on McKevitt spanning 30 years of the Troubles and if they were disclosed to the defence, even in the form of a 'descriptive part', it would identify the individuals concerned.
He said he had no doubt of the capabilities of the Real IRA or the measures it went to identify people supplying intelligence to the Garda Siochana.
Cross examining, Counsel for McKevitt, Hugh Hartnett, SC, asked the officer if the gardai were involved in the review of material in the possession of the British Security service. Mr Callinan denied this although he said he had several meetings with the British security service about the case.
He said the British had 'very real concerns' about he lives of its personnel 'and the methodology they adopt in performing their duties in the fight against terrorism'.
He said he had pointed out to the Security Service the importance of making available to the court all matters that were relevant to the prosecution of McKevitt.
He said the nature of the case was well known to the British authorities who had agreed with the FBI to allow an intelligence asset to come forward and give evidence about McKevitt directing terrorism.
FBI officer, James Krupkowski, admitted to the court that the DPP had not been furnished with all files relating to Mr Rupert. He said the decision on what information to release to the Irish authorities was taken by up to 10 people including himself.
Mr Krupkowski told Mr Hartnett that there was a schedule of material that had been edited but he refused to hand it over because it was 'classified'.
He said he could not recall any of the withheld information dealing with Mr Rupert's alleged criminality but agreed it was possible.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1109
Published Date: 17-Oct-02
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