The organisation led by convicted 'Real IRA' leader Michael McKevitt was responsible for "murder and mayhem on this island", the Court of Criminal Appeal heard today
Opposing McKevitt's appeal against his conviction for directing terrorism, George Birmingham SC, for the DPP, said McKevitt's organisation was responsible "for the murder of men, women, children and unborn children and has sought to subvert the constitution of this State."
Mr Birmingham said the State was obliged by the Constitution and by international agreements to bring the particular individual who led that organisation to trial.
McKevitt (54), of Beech Park, Blackrock, Co Louth was jailed for twenty years by the Special Criminal Court in August 2003 after he was convicted of directing the activities of a terrorist organisation between August 29th, 1999 and October 23rd, 2000.
He was the first person to be convicted in the State for the offence which was introduced after the 'Real IRA' bomb attack in Omagh in 1998 in which 29 people died.
McKevitt also received a six years concurrent prison sentence for membership of an illegal organisation which the court said was the 'Real IRA'.
On the third day of the appeal, Mr Birmingham said that FBI agent and informer David Rupert, who infiltrated the 'Real IRA' and who was the chief prosecution witness in McKevitt's trial, had performed the tasks that he had agreed to do with "remarkable skill, resourcefulness and courage".
Mr Birmingham said the decision to bring McKevitt to trial was unique in that it involved three different States, with three different law enforcement agencies, each with a commitment to the rule of law.
He said the Director of Public Prosecutions had gone to elaborate lengths to ensure that McKevitt was given a fair trial.
He also said the disclosure of documents which took place in the case "was without precedent in the history of this State
It had involved impressing upon the FBI and British Security Service the necessity for full disclosure to the defence of all relevant material.
McKevitt's lawyers have appealed against conviction on the grounds that there was not full and proper disclosure of all material relating to David Rupert and that the Special Criminal Court erred in law by not adequately assessing Rupert's credibility as a prosecution witness despite his history of involvement in criminality.
The appeal is continuing.