Real IRA accused ‘horribly upset’ by Omagh bombing, FBI agent tells court
The Dundalk man, on trial for directing the activities of an illegal organisation, claimed another dissident group was largely responsible for the tragedy that killed 29 people, and unborn twins, in August 1998, a key witness told the Special Criminal Court.
David Rupert, an American who infiltrated republican groups for the FBI and British intelligence, told the court about his first meeting with the accused in September 1999.
Mr McKevitt, 53, of Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, claimed the Real IRA, who built the bomb, was 20% responsible for the bombing while the Continuity IRA was 80% to blame as its members picked the target and delivered the bomb, according to the 51-year-old spy.
Mr Rupert, the State’s central witness in the trial of Mr McKevitt, said the Dundalk man was upset at the choice of Omagh because it was the home of Francie Mackey, then a councillor representing the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, believed to be the political wing of the Real IRA.
But, according to Mr Rupert, Mr McKevitt also said that when it was clear the car with the bomb could not be parked where it was intended, the “boys should have driven it down the country and let it go”.
Mr McKevitt is accused of directing the activities of the so-called Real IRA between August 1999 and October 2000 and being a member of an illegal organisation between August 1999 and March 2001.
Mr Rupert saidhe first met Mr McKevitt at the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan. Mr Rupert said he was told of a summit held in June where members of the RIRA, the CIRA, the INLA and the Provisionals met to discuss coming together under the banner of a new organisation, to be named Óglaigh na hÉireann.
