Court reserves judgement in McKevitt hearing

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgement in the preliminary hearing of the alleged Real IRA leader, Michael McKevitt.

The court today heard closing submissions from McKevitt's counsel Mr Hugh Hartnett SC.

The defence are seeking further disclosure of material relating to the chief prosecution witness against Mc Kevitt, FBI agent David Rupert.

Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, said the court would adjourn the hearing until October 24 and hoped to be in a position to give judgement then.

The court has been told by the head of the Garda intelligence service Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Callinan that he believes there is a ``very real and very substantial'' threat to the lives of Rupert and his family from the Real IRA because of his involvement as a witness in the case.

McKevitt's trial is due to go ahead early next year and is expected to last six weeks.

The preliminary hearing has been told that the chief prosecution witness is US citizen David Rupert who allegedly attended several meetings of the Real IRA Army Council at which McKevitt was present.

Rupert who worked for the FBI and the British Security Service (MI5) since 1994 will tell the trial that McKevitt asked him to get material in the United States and appointed him temporary liaision officer for his organisation in the US.

McKevitt's lawyers have argued that Rupert had a long time criminal involvement and they are seeking all material relating to his business dealings and criminal investigations into his activity.

Michael McKevitt, aged 51, of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth is charged that between August 29, 1999 and March 28, 2001, within the State, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann and that he directed the activities of the same organisation.

It is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under new legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing and anyone convicted of the offence faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.