FBI agent may support Omagh case

DAVID RUPERT, the FBI agent whose evidence helped convict Michael McKevitt, has signalled he may testify against the Real IRA leader in a civil case being taken by the families of the victims of the Omagh bombing.

Relatives of those who died have launched a 14m legal action against five named individuals, including McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy, all of whom are in jail, as well as Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna.

Now, after spending more than three weeks in the witness box during the Special Criminal Court trial of McKevitt, Mr Rupert has indicated to his FBI handlers he is considering giving evidence in the civil case.

“He did the right thing by us in this case and I think there are indications he will do the right thing for the families,” an FBI source told the Sunday Times.

The families can now pursue the action after the British government announced it will give 1.1m towards costs. Legal experts said it was unprecedented for a government to fund what is essentially a private action, but the British government said officials had spent many months working out a formula, based on overriding public interest, that allowed the release of the money.

While relatives said they were delighted at the announcement, they remain critical of the Irish and British governments as well as security agencies in the two jurisdictions. It is claimed both governments have refused to release witnesses and documents. Michael Gallagher, who lost his son, Aiden, in the bombing, said: “We are asking for witnesses from the security forces to testify on who is in the Real IRA; what its structures are; whether it was responsible for the Omagh bomb.”

The families’ solicitor Jason McCue added that if Rupert agreed to testify it would be a major breakthrough. He may be joined in Belfast’s High Court by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, one of those named in court papers filed by relatives. Mr Adams said he would consult his own lawyer before deciding how to respond. He added that he did not know why anyone would want him to give evidence.

Mr Gallagher said he believed Mr Adams and the leadership of Sinn Féin would have first-hand knowledge of the dissidents who split from the Provisional movement to form the Real IRA.

“This was a man who in the past has called for justice for many causes and I find it difficult to understand why he would be selective when it came to Omagh.”

“I have made it very clear that in terms of all of this, families have the right to truth and the right to closure,” said Mr Adams. “Some of the people behind the campaign have actually at times attacked Sinn Féin which is most unfair. We, from the first moment of news of the Omagh bombing, came out in opposition to what had happened.”