FBI agent infiltrated Real IRA, court told

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.

Michael McKevitt, a 51-year-old Co Louth man charged with directing the activities of an illegal organisation over a period of 14 months, is alleged to have asked David Rupert to acquire equipment for the terrorist organisation during their meetings between October 1998 and August 2000.

Mr Rupert, who the prosecution describe as a paid agent of both the FBI and British intelligence, is currently in the US but is to be the central prosecution in McKevitt’s trial, Dublin’s non-jury Special Criminal Court heard.

McKevitt, of Blackrock, Dundalk, is accused being a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army between August 1999 and March 2001.

In addition, it is alleged he directed the Real IRA between August 1999 and October 2000.

At a previous hearing, George Birmingham, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Rupert successfully infiltrated the leadership of the Real IRA and communicated with the FBI and MI5 via e-mail.

Mr Birmingham said there were a ‘‘vast number’’ of e-mails which had to be edited before they could be made available to McKevitt’s defence because they included some material that would put peoples’ lives at risk.

McKevitt’s legal team today told the court they were seeking access to 2,140 e-mails, letters and memos, along with financial documents, mobile phone and laptop records and other details of his dealings with the FBI and British intelligence.

The court heard that Mr Rupert’s credibility would be at issue, with the defence describing him as an accomplice and informant.