Ruling due on McKevitt appeal against RIRA conviction

The Court of Criminal Appeal is due to deliver judgement today on Michael McKevitt's challenge to his conviction for leading the Real IRA.

The 54-year-old, from Blackrock, Co Louth, was jailed for 20 years by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in August 2003 after being found guilty of directing the activities of an illegal organisation.

His appeal centres on the reliability of evidence given by the chief prosecution witness, FBI agent David Rupert, who claimed he infiltrated the Real IRA.

Mr McKevitt's lawyers have argued that his testimony cannot be trusted because he was a lifelong criminal who had been paid by around €2m by the US and British intelligence agencies.