Defiant McKevitt vows to fight landmark terror conviction
His wife, Bernadette Sands McKevitt, read out a statement outside Portlaoise Prison, saying her husband had been denied a fair trial and would appeal the judgment. She described the conviction as a "political decision".
"My husband has refuted those allegations and will continue to refute those allegations and he intends to take this further," she said. "The court case that took place was nothing more than a show trial."
She said the evidence put to the court was constructed and McKevitt had been the victim of a stitch-up.
She also said the relatives of the Omagh victims had been misinformed by the authorities. "I believe that they have been misled," she added.
Earlier yesterday, McKevitt had sent a message from his jail cell saying he intended to appeal the verdict.
As McKevitt faced a life sentence after being convicted of directing terrorism yesterday, families of those killed in the 1998 atrocity hit out at the failure of the police to bring those responsible to justice. They also vowed to pursue an expensive and lengthy €14m civil action against McKevitt and four named associates.
Michael Gallagher, father of 21-year-old victim Aidan, said of the bombers: "It's looking highly unlikely they will ever be caught and brought to justice."
He was "bitter and very disappointed" the charges did not cover the time of the bombings. The relatives are angry at what they describe as mistakes made and obstacles thrown up in the wake of the August, 1998, explosion that killed 29 people and believe that political expediency and protection of informants took precedence over bringing those responsible to justice.
The relatives still need to raise over €1 million to fight the civil action. They have vowed to pursue it, claiming the net is closing on the bombers. "Having come this far, we cannot let them get away," said Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James died at Omagh.
McKevitt, a 53-year-old father of five, of Blackrock, Dundalk, yesterday became the first person in the State to be convicted of directing terrorism under legislation brought in following the Omagh bombing. He is accused of organising bomb and rocket attacks in London, including one against MI6 HQ, and in the North.
He was found guilty in the Special Criminal Court of directing the activities of the Real IRA between August, 1999, and October, 2000. McKevitt was also convicted of being a member of the same organisation between August, 1999, and March, 2001.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Richard Johnson accepting that the evidence of FBI and British Secret Service agent David Rupert was truthful, said: "The court is satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that Rupert's evidence relating to the instructions given to him by the accused constitutes directing . . . and is open to no other interpretation."
The prosecution case rested largely on the testimony of Mr Rupert, a United States citizen paid a total of $1.25m to infiltrate dissident republican organisations. During more than three weeks in the witness box, Mr Rupert described details of more than 20 meetings he had with McKevitt between August, 1999, and October the following year.
The defence, which was dismissed by McKevitt shortly before the end of the trial, attempted to discredit the witness.
Despite revealing links with the Mafia, allegations he kidnapped young girls, was involved in smuggling and wire fraud and details of a colourful love life, the three judges ruled the defence failed to "establish any criminality or conviction on the part of the witness".
The garda's lead investigator, Detective Chief Supt Martin Callinan, added: "The decision has vindicated his position and we are grateful to him for coming forward. It was a brave thing for him to do."
McKevitt will be sentenced today and faces a maximum life term.
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