MCKEVITT GIVEN LEAVE TO APPEAL
McKevitt given leave to appeal
MICHAEL McKevitt has been given fresh leave to challenge his conviction for directing terrorism.
McKevitt, from Blackrock, Co. Louth, was the first person to be convicted in the Republic for the offence of directing terrorism, which was introduced after the 1998 Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh.
He was sentenced to 20 years in 2003 for directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.
He also received a six years concurrent prison sentence for membership of an illegal organisation which the court said was the Real IRA.
His lawyers have been granted permission to go the Supreme Court.
They claim the defence team in his trial was not given full information about the tax affairs of chief witness David Rupert, an FBI and British agent.
In December 2005, an attempt by McKevitt to have his conviction overturned failed at the Court of Criminal Appeal.
His lawyers had sought to have his conviction quashed by challenging the credibility of Mr Rupert, a secret agent of the FBI and the British security service.
Mr Rupert was reported to have infiltrated the Real IRA and attended Real IRA Army Council meetings where McKevitt was present.
MICHAEL McKevitt has been given fresh leave to challenge his conviction for directing terrorism.
McKevitt, from Blackrock, Co. Louth, was the first person to be convicted in the Republic for the offence of directing terrorism, which was introduced after the 1998 Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh.
He was sentenced to 20 years in 2003 for directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.
He also received a six years concurrent prison sentence for membership of an illegal organisation which the court said was the Real IRA.
His lawyers have been granted permission to go the Supreme Court.
They claim the defence team in his trial was not given full information about the tax affairs of chief witness David Rupert, an FBI and British agent.
In December 2005, an attempt by McKevitt to have his conviction overturned failed at the Court of Criminal Appeal.
His lawyers had sought to have his conviction quashed by challenging the credibility of Mr Rupert, a secret agent of the FBI and the British security service.
Mr Rupert was reported to have infiltrated the Real IRA and attended Real IRA Army Council meetings where McKevitt was present.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1842
Published Date: 20-Jul-06
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