Omagh documentary convinced Rupert to testify

FBI agent David Rupert agreed to testify against alleged Real IRA mastermind Michael McKevitt only after watching a heart-rending TV documentary on the Omagh bomb atrocity, he claimed today.

The US spy also told how the suspected dissident republican leader wanted suicide bombers to attack a British naval ship moored off the Co Down coast.

Mr Rupert is the key prosecution witness in the trial of McKevitt, who is accused of directing terrorism and membership of the Real IRA – the grouping behind the Omagh attack which killed 29 people and injured hundreds more. He denies both charges.

After allegedly infiltrating the rogue republican unit and becoming close to McKevitt, Mr Rupert’s FBI handlers asked him in the summer of 2000 to give evidence, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told.

Even though he feared such a move could result in him being shot, Mr Rupert informed the security service he might be willing in return for a big cash payment.

He also wanted assurances that the operation would lead to the terrorist organisation being completely dismantled.

Following months of negotiations he eventually told the authorities in December 2000 that he was not prepared to risk it, the court heard.

But after an FBI agent urged him to sleep on his decision Mr Rupert said: “That night on TV as I was randomly switching the channels there happened to be a special on Omagh that featured a young lady blinded by the Omagh bomb and a young boy who apparently lost his shoulder bones.

“I thought it was amazing that happened to be on at that time. It was such a random choice of channels that it would be impossible that it was routed to me and through it I chose to testify.”

His contract with the FBI which had earlier been raised from €2,500 to €4,500 a month was again increased to more than €12,000 dollars.

The decision to become the prosecution’s star witness followed his final trip to Ireland as an undercover agent in October 2000.

During that trip he said that he met McKevitt on several occasions, including one car journey along Carlingford Lough close to the Irish border when Mr Rupert was supposedly looking for a house to buy.

As they were returning towards Greenore, Co Louth, Mr Rupert claimed McKevitt made an apparent reference to the Warrenpoint bombing in 1979 when the IRA killed 19 British troops.

According to Mr Rupert, McKevitt, the alleged former quartermaster in the Provos before he quit over the direction of the Northern Ireland peace process, spoke in the first person about the attack and described in great detail how it was carried out.

He also spoke of how British naval ships on Carlingford Lough were regarded by republicans as an act of provocation and wanted to launch a strike at one of them, it was claimed.

His plans were disclosed soon after terrorists killed 17 American soldiers on board the USS Cole in the Yemen, Mr Rupert said.

He added: “He said unfortunately for the IRA they didn’t have any suicide bombers to run explosive devices into it.

“We went on to discuss a remote control vessel.”

Earlier the court was told how McKevitt, 53, of Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth tried to secure backing from Iraq to fund his terror campaign.

Mr Rupert also claimed he considered forging an alliance with Sri Lankan-based guerrilla group Tamil Tigers.

Some of his key men had been sent to a human rights convention in Geneva in a bid to secure state sponsorship for the new terror grouping McKevitt was allegedly forming under the banner of Oglaigh na h Eireann (the IRA), Mr Rupert said.

The accused was upset when they returned empty handed but had other plans, it was alleged.

Mr Rupert said: “He said he had a contact with a lady with some Irish connections who had connections with the Tamil Tigers.

“They were also looking for possible Iraqi sponsorship.”