A chief superintendent told the Special Criminal Court yesterday he believed that evidence connecting the alleged leader of the "Real IRA", Mr Michael McKevitt, with directing that organisation would be found at the accused's home when he issued a search warrant for the premises.
Chief Supt Peter Maguire said that after three days examining a 40-page deposition and emails from FBI agent Mr David Rupert, he issued a search warrant for Mr McKevitt's house at Blackrock, Co Louth, on March 28th, 2001.
"I was satisfied having examined all the material that I had reasonable grounds for belief that evidence in relation to a scheduled offence would be found there," he said.
It was the second day of the trial of Mr McKevitt (53), of Beech Park, Blackrock, Co Louth, who has pleaded not guilty to two charges - membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, between August 29th, 1999, and March 28th, 2001, and to directing the activities of the same organisation between March 29th, 1999, and October 23rd, 2000.
Chief Supt Maguire told prosecuting counsel Mr Brendan Grehan SC that in March 2001 he was investigating IRA activities.
On March 24th, 25th and 26th, he examined a number of documents, including a statement of more than 40 pages from "a man called David Rupert". This was a deposition of evidence which Mr Rupert proposed to give in relation to the alleged criminal activities of Mr McKevitt and others.
He said he also read a number of emails and all the material contained specific allegations "that McKevitt was over a particular period of a time a member of an unlawful organisation known as Óglaigh na hÉireann, or the IRA". Asked by Mr Grehan if he knew Mr McKevitt, Chief Supt Maguire said he did, and pointed out the accused in the court.
Chief Supt Maguire said he gave the search warrant to Det Sgt William Hanrahan and he was at Dundalk Garda station at 6 a.m. on March 29th, where he briefed members of the Special Detective Unit and detectives from Dundalk on the proposed search of Mr McKevitt's house.
He said he then went to Beech Park where he met Det Insp Diarmuid O'Sullivan, who had Mr McKevitt in custody. Det Insp O'Sullivan told him he had arrested Mr McKevitt for two offences: membership of an unlawful organisation and directing the organisation.
The prosecution has claimed that Mr David Rupert, a US citizen who worked for the FBI and the British security service and was paid $1.25 million dollars to infiltrate dissident republican organisations, will give evidence of having met Mr McKevitt on more than 20 occasions.
Mr Rupert will give evidence that Mr McKevitt spoke of the activities of the "Real IRA" and his role as a former quartermaster for the Provisional IRA. He will also give evidence that Mr McKevitt gave him a "shopping list" to acquire material in the US for use in a terrorist campaign.
The trial was adjourned until Monday, when Mr Rupert is expected to testify.