Garda insists he saw McKevitt meeting

A senior Garda today insisted he saw a meeting between alleged Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt and FBI agent David Rupert in Co Louth.

Detective Garda Sergeant Thomas Healy rejected suggestions from McKevitt’s lawyers that the meeting never actually took place.

He told the court: “Somebody has a great imagination and it’s not me.”

Under cross examination at the Special Criminal Court Det Sgt Healy was quizzed extensively about a surveillance operation he led outside 83 Oakland Park, Dundalk, Co Louth, on February 18 2000.

He told the court he saw the two men speaking together outside the house and that Mr Rupert left with another man.

McKevitt’s lawyer said it was the defendant’s case that he was not there that night.

The detective replied that the account he gave to the court was accurate, adding: “I’m a fair and honest man.”

Asked why he did not note details such as the clothes McKevitt was wearing, Det Sgt Healy said that kind of information was not relevant to his work.

“If he was going into the house on two crutches I would have noted that,” he said.

He said that in order to protect current and future Garda intelligence operations it was not possible to give certain pieces of information about how he and his team surveyed the house.

He added: “I’m not trying to be evasive. I’m trying to protect my colleagues.”

Another officer who took part in the operation also gave his account of events to the court.

Detective Garda Fergal O’Brien said he watched the meeting from a van parked opposite the house and crouched behind the front seats so as not to be seen.

Earlier in the trial FBI agent David Rupert denied allegations from the defence that he had never met McKevitt and that he had fabricated his evidence.

The former trucking company boss was hired by the FBI and MI5 to infiltrate dissident republican groups in Ireland during the 1990s.

He spent 15 days in the witness box, testifying against McKevitt.

McKevitt, 53, of Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, denies directing the Real IRA and being a member of the organisation.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.