FBI agent Mr David Rupert denied at the Special Criminal Court yesterday that he had "concocted and invented a tissue of lies" in his evidence against the alleged "Real IRA" leader, Mr Michael McKevitt. He also denied a suggestion that he had never met Mr McKevitt.
The former trucking company boss and bar-owner finished 15 days in the witness box after a lengthy and detailed cross examination by Mr McKevitt's counsel, Mr Hugh Hartnett SC.
After Mr Rupert completed his evidence, Mr Justice Johnson thanked him and he left the court flanked by armed detectives. Mr George Birmingham SC, prosecuting, said Mr Rupert would be available at "24 or 48 hours notice" if he was required again.
It was the 20th day of the trial of Mr McKevitt (53), Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, who denies membership of the IRA between August 29th, 1999, and March 28th, 2001. He also denies directing its activities.
In his final questions, Mr Hartnett said: "I am putting it to you that what you have said here in court about Mr McKevitt is an entire invention and concoction." Mr Rupert replied: "That's totally ludicrous."
Mr Hartnett: "I am putting it to you that the evidence you have given in court has been a tissue of lies." Mr Rupert: "I'm sure that's what defence counsel would like to believe, but it's just not true."
Mr Hartnett suggested that Mr Rupert's evidence had been a "serial deceit" and Mr Rupert replied: "Absolutely not." Mr Hartnett: "I put it to you that you never met Mr McKevitt?" Mr Rupert: "That's foolishness."
Earlier Mr Rupert said he attended meetings of the army council of the organisation led by Mr McKevitt, although he could not be sure if Mr McKevitt was at the first meeting which was held at an isolated house in north Co Louth. Mr Rupert said that he attended the meeting as "a honorary type member" so he could go back the United States and explain to people exactly what their money was being used for.
Asked by Mr Hartnett if he had been at the centre of "an illegal and secret army", Mr Rupert said: "I would have been close to the centre but I would not say I was at the centre."
Mr Rupert said a Derry man, Kieran McLaughlin, who was "the money man", was at the meeting and either told him he had received $9,900 from Mr McKevitt or else Mr McKevitt handed the money to McLaughlin at the meeting. Mr Rupert said there were three or four people as well as himself at the meeting but he could not recall specifically if Mr McKevitt was there. "It was 2½ years ago," he added.
Mr Rupert also said that he had set up a website at the request of Mr McKevitt and his wife, Bernadette. He had been in their house a number of times working on computers.
He also said that he attended three "engineers meetings", two at a house in an estate outside Dundalk and one at the same house in Co Louth where the army council meeting was held.
He said Mr McKevitt was at at least one of those meetings and Mr Rupert said he later identified from a picture to the FBI and the British Security Service a bomb technician who was at the meeting.
He also said Mr McKevitt had taken him on drives in Co Louth and Co Meath and had pointed out one place where years before he, his wife and a third person had nearly been caught building a bomb.
Mr Rupert (51), a former trucking company boss and bar owner, has told the court that he infiltrated dissident republican groups for the FBI and the British Security Service. The court has heard that Mr Rupert has been paid $1.25 million to date for his work.
The trial was adjourned until today to allow the defence and prosecution to consult each other on the future course of the case.