OMAGH BOMB CIVIL ACTION TO RESUME NEXT WEEK
Omagh bomb civil action to resume next week
BY RONAN McSHERRY
r.mcsherry@ulsterherald.com
AFTER a week's adjournment the Omagh bomb civil trial will resume again in the District Court in Dublin next Tuesday. In an historic move the court in the capital was turned into a 'British' court setting last week as gardai gave evidence on the Real IRA and its leadership and corroborated the testimony of David Rupert, an American trucker who infiltrated the Real IRA for the FBI.
Five dissident republicans deny any part in the Real IRA bombing of Market Street that killed 29 people and unborn twins on August 15, 1998.
The men being sued by the relatives of six of the victims of the blast are Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna.
The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law. The Omagh families are seeking punitive and exemplary damages in this court action.
In 2003 the evidence, unrelated to the Omagh bombing, of spy Rupert helped to convict Michael McKevitt of directing terrorism. He is currently serving a 20-year-jail term in the Republic.
When he was arrested McKevitt claimed he could not remember meeting the 6ft 7ins tall American. At the Omagh civil trial at the end of last week Michael O'Higgins SC, for McKevitt, accused senior gardai of not investigating the agent's credibility.
Superintendent Diarmuid O'Sullivan who took statements from Rupert during his undercover operation said the American was a reliable witness as 90 per cent of his evidence could be collaborated.
Superintendent O'Sullivan told the court he received five statements from Rupert alluding to a plan by dissident republicans to ship weapons and ammunition from the United States to a school in Donegal.
He said Rupert also identified three properties in Dundalk, Co Louth, including McKevitt's family home, which he claimed he knew from involvement with the dissident republican group.
Mr O'Sullivan was grilled for almost four hours over the credibility and trustworthiness of the FBI agent.
Although more than 50 gardai were summonsed to give evidence in Dublin, just seven out of the first 29 officers listed for last week took to the witness box.
Barristers, who agreed that statements from four gardai could be read to the case in Belfast, are expected to agree a possible reduction in witnesses when the case returns to the District Court in Dublin next Tuesday, May 27.
BY RONAN McSHERRY
r.mcsherry@ulsterherald.com
AFTER a week's adjournment the Omagh bomb civil trial will resume again in the District Court in Dublin next Tuesday. In an historic move the court in the capital was turned into a 'British' court setting last week as gardai gave evidence on the Real IRA and its leadership and corroborated the testimony of David Rupert, an American trucker who infiltrated the Real IRA for the FBI.
Five dissident republicans deny any part in the Real IRA bombing of Market Street that killed 29 people and unborn twins on August 15, 1998.
The men being sued by the relatives of six of the victims of the blast are Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna.
The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law. The Omagh families are seeking punitive and exemplary damages in this court action.
In 2003 the evidence, unrelated to the Omagh bombing, of spy Rupert helped to convict Michael McKevitt of directing terrorism. He is currently serving a 20-year-jail term in the Republic.
When he was arrested McKevitt claimed he could not remember meeting the 6ft 7ins tall American. At the Omagh civil trial at the end of last week Michael O'Higgins SC, for McKevitt, accused senior gardai of not investigating the agent's credibility.
Superintendent Diarmuid O'Sullivan who took statements from Rupert during his undercover operation said the American was a reliable witness as 90 per cent of his evidence could be collaborated.
Superintendent O'Sullivan told the court he received five statements from Rupert alluding to a plan by dissident republicans to ship weapons and ammunition from the United States to a school in Donegal.
He said Rupert also identified three properties in Dundalk, Co Louth, including McKevitt's family home, which he claimed he knew from involvement with the dissident republican group.
Mr O'Sullivan was grilled for almost four hours over the credibility and trustworthiness of the FBI agent.
Although more than 50 gardai were summonsed to give evidence in Dublin, just seven out of the first 29 officers listed for last week took to the witness box.
Barristers, who agreed that statements from four gardai could be read to the case in Belfast, are expected to agree a possible reduction in witnesses when the case returns to the District Court in Dublin next Tuesday, May 27.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1945
Published Date: 22-May-08
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.