Verdict due in McKevitt trial

A verdict was due today in the trial of alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt, the first person to face a charge of directing terrorism in Ireland.

The trial of McKevitt, from Blackrock, Co Louth, ended in his absence last month after he dismissed his defence team and claimed the proceedings had amounted to a show trial at Dublin’s no-jury anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court.

McKevitt remained in the cells of the city-centre courthouse as the prosecution case against him was concluded.

Court President Mr Justice Richard Johnson sent a written document prepared by the prosecution outlining his options to McKevitt, telling him he could make a submission that he had no case to answer, and that it was open to him to give evidence or to call witnesses on his behalf or not to give evidence or call witnesses.

But McKevitt rejected those options and refused to reappear in court. He was then remanded in custody until today.

McKevitt, 53, denied the directing terrorism count, as well as membership of the IRA.

During the 26-day trial, the court heard key evidence from David Rupert, an American who worked for the FBI and the British Security Service.

A former trucking company boss and bar owner, Mr Rupert said he infiltrated dissident republican groups for the FBI and the British Security Service.

The Real IRA organisation allegedly led by McKevitt, carried out the bombing of Omagh, Co Tyrone, in August, 1998, when 29 people were killed and another 200 injured, as well as a number of other terrorist attacks.

The directing terrorism offence was introduced by the Government in response to the Omagh outrage.