Undercover security operations in Northern Ireland have been intensified amid fears of a bombing backlash by former associates of jailed Real IRA boss Michael McKevitt, it emerged tonight.

Dissident republican leader Michael McKevitt (aged 53) was sentenced to 20 years at Dublin's Special Criminal Court today for directing terrorism and membership of the Real IRA.

Michael McKevitt has indicated that he would be appealing against the two terror convictions.

Relatives of the victims of the Omagh bombing are delighted with the conviction of Michael McKevitt on two terrorism charges.

Michael McKevitt has been convicted of two terrorism charges at the Special Criminal Court.

A verdict was due today in the trial of alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt, the first person to face a charge of directing terrorism in Ireland.

The alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt refused to leave his cell when his trial for directing terrorism resumed at the Special Criminal Court today.

FBI agent David Rupert told the Special Criminal Court today that he used to fax a daily digest of news reports from Irish newspapers and republican websites to his FBI handler.

An FBI spy testifying against alleged Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt suggested he should be hypnotised in order to remember details of meetings with dissident republicans which he infiltrated, a court heard today.

The FBI agent testifying against alleged Real IRA mastermind Michael McKevitt today rejected claims that he was a fantasist.

FBI agent David Rupert told the Special Criminal Court today that he scouted the US/Mexican border as a possible entry point to the United States for the alleged Real IRA leader Michael Mc Kevitt.

The Special Criminal Court today rejected an application by lawyers representing the alleged leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, for access to secret unedited MI5 documents.

A journalist and newspaper are to be investigated for contempt of court for reporting of the trial of alleged Real IRA leader Michael Mc Kevitt, the Special Criminal Court was told today.

US federal prosecutors have asked a judge to delay his decision on a lawyer’s request for transcripts of interviews between journalists and an FBI mole.

A US judge has agreed to consider a request from lawyers for an alleged Irish terrorist for transcripts of interviews in which an FBI undercover agent talked to reporters.

FBI agent David Rupert agreed to testify against alleged Real IRA mastermind Michael McKevitt only after watching a heart-rending TV documentary on the Omagh bomb atrocity, he claimed today.

Alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt tried to secure backing from Iraq to fund his terror campaign, a court was told today.

A top republican was due to go on trial today accused of masterminding the Real IRA.

The Special Criminal Court in Dublin today fixed June 18 next as the provisional trial date for Michael Mc Kevitt, the alleged leader of the Real IRA.

The terrorist group behind the Omagh bombing made several attempts to trace an FBI agent preparing to give evidence against its alleged leader, a top garda told Dublin's Special Criminal court today.

The head of gardai intelligence told the Special Criminal Court today that there was a ''a very real and very substantial'' threat to the lives of FBI witness David Rupert and his family because of his involvement in the case of the alleged Real IRA leader Michael Mc Kevitt.

The British ambassador in Ireland, Sir Ivor Roberts told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today he had been advised by members of the British security service in Ireland and in London that all relevant material relating to David Rupert, the chief prosecution witness against the alleged leader of the Real IRA Michael Mckevitt had been disclosed to the defence.

The British ambassador in Ireland, Ivor Roberts told the Special Criminal Court today that he had been advised by members of the British security service in Ireland and in London that all relevant material relating to David Rupert, the chief prosecution witness against the alleged leader of the Real IRA Michael Mckevitt, had been disclosed to the defence.

A senior FBI agent and the British ambassador are expected to give evidence at the preliminary trial of alleged IRA leader, Michael McKevitt, today.

The Special Criminal Court has heard that gardai, the FBI and British Intelligence are preparing evidence for the trial of the Co Louth man who is accused of being the leader of the so-called Real IRA.

A former alleged leader of the dissident paramilitary Real IRA group met an FBI agent who infiltrated his organisation a number of times, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The Special Criminal Court has adjourned a bail hearing by alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt.

An alleged leading member of the Real IRA is to apply to be freed on bail today at the Special Criminal Court.