A senior garda attempted to block a statement that claimed he had no concerns about terrorism in Northern Ireland, the Omagh civil action case heard today.
An internal M15 memo alleged that Chief Supt Dermot Jennings wanted to remove the report because it cast doubt on the credibility of an FBI informer who had infiltrated the Real IRA.
The document maintained if the garda disputed he told David Rupert that he was “only being interested in illegal activity in the Republic of Ireland” it would make him an untrustworthy source.
Rupert’s evidence was paramount in the conviction of alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt in August 2003 who was jailed for 20 years for directing terrorism, unrelated to the Omagh bomb attack.
Chief Supt Jennings, promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2001, was not called to give evidence at McKevitt’s criminal trial, and has not been listed to appear before the civil case.
Michael O’Higgins SC, for McKevitt, told Dublin District Court that Rupert and Chief Supt Jennings had numerous meetings in 1997.
McKevitt, Liam Campbell, said to be his number two, Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly all deny any involvement in the bomb attack. The court case entails evidence from a Northern Ireland case being heard in the Republic.
The civil action by six families is against five men they believe are responsible for the RIRA blast in August 1998 which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
Although more than 50 gardai were summonsed to give evidence in Dublin, just seven out of first 29 officers listed for this week have taken to the witness box.
Barristers, who agreed that statements from four gardaí could be read in to the case back in Belfast, are expected to agree in Belfast Crown Court tomorrow a running order, and possible reduction in witnesses, when the case returns to the District Court on May 27th.
The legal teams are also expected to ask District Court Judge Conal Gibbons and Mr Justice Morgan, who has presided over the case in Belfast Crown Court but had no judicial powers in Dublin, for an extension in the Republic.
PA