Ambassador to give evidence at terror trial

Two senior FBI witnesses are expected to attend the preliminary hearing of the alleged leader of the Real IRA Michael McKevitt, which gets underway today at the Special Criminal Court.

Britain’s ambassador to Ireland, Sir Ivor Roberts, is also set to give evidence this week in connection with proceedings against McKevitt, the man claimed to lead the Real IRA.

The paramilitary group was behind the Omagh bombing in Co Tyrone, in August, 1998, when 29 people died and more than 200 were injured.

The envoy has been called to the hearing – opening today – over the disclosure of documents to lawyers acting for McKevitt, who has been accused of directing terrorism in the first case of its kind to be taken by the Irish authorities under legislation introduced in response to the Omagh outrage.

The trial of 51-year-old McKevitt, from Dundalk, Co Louth, is scheduled to go ahead in the no-jury Special Criminal Court next February, and last around six weeks.

McKevitt has also been charged with membership of the Real IRA, which is classified as an illegal organisation.

Sir Ivor was to give evidence about the main prosecution witness at the trial of American citizen David Rupert, who infiltrated the Real IRA after working for both the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation and British intelligence.

An earlier hearing was told that Mr Rupert attended meetings of the policy-directing Army council and met McKevitt over a two-year period.

Today’s proceedings involve preliminary legal argument over many of the 3,000 documents that have been disclosed to the defence in the case.

Earlier this year, McKevitt and four other men were served with writs prepared for families of the Omagh victims, who are claiming damages in a civil action before the Belfast High Court.