MCKEVITT DENIED LEAVE TO APPEAL 20 YEAR SENTENCE
McKevitt denied leave to appeal 20 year sentence
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
AS Michael McKevitt began his 20 year sentence for directing terrorism, some Omagh people were pleased at the news and insisted that he must serve every second of his sentence. Meanwhile, after his guilty verdict was announced last Wednesday, his wife, Bernadette Sands McKevitt, held a press conference outside Portlaoise prison announcing that her husband had been 'stitched up' in a 'show trial'.
On Thursday, Dublin's three Special Criminal Court judges announced sentence on McKevitt, including a six year concurrent sentence for membership of a proscribed organisation.
In handing down the sentences the judges stressed that the offences related to crimes committed after the bombing of Omagh and that the sentencing must not be seen as some sort of revenge for Omagh.
Handing down the sentence Mr Justice Richard said that the accused played a leading role in the organisation which he directed and induced others to join.
He continued, "The court is satisfied that the offences were planned and premeditated and contemplated to do serious harm to people and property. The accused played a leading role in the organisation which he directed and induced others to join." He intimated that the judges had considered a 25 year sentence but opted for the lesser sentence to allow for the possibility of McKevitt's rehabilitation.
McKevitt later appeared in court, wearing a blue polo shirt and cream trousers, and said, "I would like to apply for leave to appeal." He was asked for a reason for such an appeal but failed to provide one and, therefore, his application was rejected.
The case was remarkable for a number of reasons, the chief prosecution witness was an FBI and MB Agent, McKevitt's team protested that vital evidence was not made available until their client's case had been damaged irreparably, McKevitt sacked his legal team and promptly bought the trial to an end when he refused to have any further part in it. He subsequently refused to leave his cell to appear in court for sentencing. The chief witness was allegedly paid $1.5 millions dollars for his testimony, the judges refused to allow a hand-written statement following the verdict to be read out in Court. His was the first prosecution of its type ever, brought about after the introduction of new anti-terror laws in the wake of the Omagh atrocity, and finally, he was denied leave to appeal.
McKevitt, a 53 year-old businessman from Blackrock in County Louth, had denied the charges throughout.
Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Stanley McCombe, whose wife, Anne, was among those killed at Omagh, said the sentence "Does ease the pain a bit, but not much. We've had our life sentences. There is no remission for us."
As McKevitt started a 20-year jail sentence prison authorities were desperate to keep him apart from feuding ex-comrades. McKevitt will join around 40 other 'Real-IRA' inmates in prison, but the group is thought to be bitterly divided and it is thought that the prison authorities have been advised to keep McKevitt and a rival apart at all costs.
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
AS Michael McKevitt began his 20 year sentence for directing terrorism, some Omagh people were pleased at the news and insisted that he must serve every second of his sentence. Meanwhile, after his guilty verdict was announced last Wednesday, his wife, Bernadette Sands McKevitt, held a press conference outside Portlaoise prison announcing that her husband had been 'stitched up' in a 'show trial'.
On Thursday, Dublin's three Special Criminal Court judges announced sentence on McKevitt, including a six year concurrent sentence for membership of a proscribed organisation.
In handing down the sentences the judges stressed that the offences related to crimes committed after the bombing of Omagh and that the sentencing must not be seen as some sort of revenge for Omagh.
Handing down the sentence Mr Justice Richard said that the accused played a leading role in the organisation which he directed and induced others to join.
He continued, "The court is satisfied that the offences were planned and premeditated and contemplated to do serious harm to people and property. The accused played a leading role in the organisation which he directed and induced others to join." He intimated that the judges had considered a 25 year sentence but opted for the lesser sentence to allow for the possibility of McKevitt's rehabilitation.
McKevitt later appeared in court, wearing a blue polo shirt and cream trousers, and said, "I would like to apply for leave to appeal." He was asked for a reason for such an appeal but failed to provide one and, therefore, his application was rejected.
The case was remarkable for a number of reasons, the chief prosecution witness was an FBI and MB Agent, McKevitt's team protested that vital evidence was not made available until their client's case had been damaged irreparably, McKevitt sacked his legal team and promptly bought the trial to an end when he refused to have any further part in it. He subsequently refused to leave his cell to appear in court for sentencing. The chief witness was allegedly paid $1.5 millions dollars for his testimony, the judges refused to allow a hand-written statement following the verdict to be read out in Court. His was the first prosecution of its type ever, brought about after the introduction of new anti-terror laws in the wake of the Omagh atrocity, and finally, he was denied leave to appeal.
McKevitt, a 53 year-old businessman from Blackrock in County Louth, had denied the charges throughout.
Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Stanley McCombe, whose wife, Anne, was among those killed at Omagh, said the sentence "Does ease the pain a bit, but not much. We've had our life sentences. There is no remission for us."
As McKevitt started a 20-year jail sentence prison authorities were desperate to keep him apart from feuding ex-comrades. McKevitt will join around 40 other 'Real-IRA' inmates in prison, but the group is thought to be bitterly divided and it is thought that the prison authorities have been advised to keep McKevitt and a rival apart at all costs.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1567
Published Date: 14-Aug-03
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