The Special Criminal Court has turned down an application by lawyers for the alleged leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, for further disclosure of documentation in advance of his trial.

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgement in the preliminary hearing of the alleged Real IRA leader, Michael McKevitt.

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.

A senior FBI official told the Special Criminal Court today that the FBI had withheld certain documents from the Irish authorities in the case of Michael Mc Kevitt, the alleged leader of the real IRA.