It
was recently reported by various media, that Michael
McKevitt was "convicted of directing terrorism
at the time of Omagh." This is factually inaccurate.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time the media
have carried false and misleading reports about
Michael. Therefore we feel it is necessary for us
to clarify. The period that Michael was convicted
of was September 1999 to October 2000 - over a year
later than the date of the bombing.
Michael
was convicted on the sole evidence of paid career
informant David Rupert whose total take as a result
of the conviction has been estimated at around $5
million. This consists of an acknowledged $1.5 million
from the FBI up to the year 2000, plus a similar
payment from MI5 through the pro rata agreement
for services to them, plus a reported $50,000 per
month for life and a substantial percentage of the
profits of a book on his life and times in Ireland
being ghost-written by two US journalists. Much
of these payments were dependent on the conviction
of Michael McKevitt. Acquittal in the trial would
have been a financial disaster for David Rupert.
It also would have been a major embarrassment for
MI5, the FBI the Gardai and the Irish DPP's office.
The
Mc Kevitt and Sands families welcome any details
from MI5 about its agent David Rupert while under
MI5 employ in Ireland and in particular, his and
MI5's role in the Omagh bombing.
Furthermore,
we welcome any details on who authorized a foreign
agency to spy on Irish citizens in Ireland.
