The Special Criminal Court has found Michael McKevitt guilty of directing terrorism and being a member of an illegal organisation.
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Mr David Rupert, the chief prosecution witness
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The alleged leader of the "Real IRA" faces a life sentence in prison for directing the activities of the organisation between August 1999 and October 2000.
McKevitt (53), who was prosecuted largely on the evidence of a former FBI spy, Mr David Rupert, is the first person to be convicted of the offence of directing terrorism.
In his ruling Justice Richard Johnson said the court was satisfied that the chief prosecution witness, Mr Rupert, was a "truthful witness" and that he had met McKevitt on several occasions.
Justice Johnson said: "The court is satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that Rupert's evidence relating to instructions given to him by the accused constitutes directing within the meaning of the section and is open to no other interpretation."
McKevitt from Blackrock in Co Louth again refused to attend the court to hear the judgement despite being directed to do so.He indicated through a message to the court that he would be appealing against the convictions. He is due to be sentenced tomorrow afternoon.
The trial came to a speedy conclusion after Mr McKevitt sacked his legal team last month, denouncing the hearing as a "political show trial".
McKevitt has consistently denied membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, between August 29th, 1999, and March 28th, 2001. He also denied directing the activities of the same organisation.
During the 26-day trial, the court heard evidence from Mr Rupert, an American who worked for the FBI and the British Security Service. Mr Rupert (51), a former trucking company boss and bar owner, said he infiltrated dissident republican groups for the FBI and the British Security Service.
In his evidence, Mr Rupert told the court about a number of 'Real IRA' meetings he attended with McKevitt and of the Louth man's plans to launch a new wave of bombings in Britain.
When the trial dealt with evidence from the Garda Surveillance Unit, McKevitt's defence claimed itcontradicted Mr Rupert's evidence, and applied to have the trial stopped.
When the court refused this application, McKevitt dismissed his legal team and has refused to participate in any further proceedings.
The Omagh Victims' Civil Action Group said: "Today's judgement is a great step forward in our fight for justice for those who were murdered in the Omagh bomb. We now know what we suspected all along: McKevitt is a terrorist, a man who the blood of innocent people on his hands."
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden was killed in the attack, said: "I'm absolutely delighted the verdict has gone the way it has.
"He [McKevitt] cannot orchestrate another atrocity such as Omagh".
One of the chief garda investigators, Detective Inspector Callinan, said: "This is a significant conviction, there is no doubt about that."
However he warned there was a continuing threat to the democratic process in this country from dissident Republicans.
The offence of directing terrorism was one of a number of measures introduced by the Government following the Omagh bombing in 1998.
However McKevitt's conviction relates to a period of time subsequent to the bombing which killed 29 people and remains the worst atrocity of the Troubles.
