Families of Omagh victims hunting assets of those they believe were responsible for bombing

Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly are among the men who could have their assets seized

Relatives of the victims of the Omagh bomb have launched a three-pronged legal strategy aimed at securing money and assets from the four men found liable for the August 1998 atrocity.

According to a report in yesterday’s Sunday Business Post, the move could lead to bankruptcy proceedings being taken against the men, including Blackrock man Michael McKevitt – if they don’t come up with €2.2 million in compensation to the relatives.

The move will see legal advisers question not only members of the gange, but also this wives, in court this year about whether they have assets that can be seized in the Republic.

The families are seeking any asset worth more than €5,000 to be disclosed by the four men.

A third party discovery motion has also been lodged against the Criminal Assets Bureau seeking information about what assets the state agency has identified as connected to the quartet.

Real IRA director of operations Liam Campbell, from Faughart, and builder Colm Murphy, from Mountpleasant, are both facing an examination hearing in front of Mr Justice Seamus Noonan on October 14^th.

Lawyers for the families had also hoped to quiz Real IRA leader McKevitt about here his money is but are unable to do so because he is serving a jail sentence in Portlaoise prison.

The families have also been unable to serve papers on bricklayer Seamus Daly, from Culloville, Co Monaghan, because he is in prison in the North.

The lawyers plan to question the men’s wives – Bernadette Sands McKevitt, Bernadette Campbell, Anne Murphy and Áine McKenna (the wife of Daly).

Each of the women will be asked about assets owned by their partners on November 4^th as part of a third party discovery application.

The families’ fight to force the men to pay them damages or face bankruptcy goes back to June 8^th 2009 when they won a landmark civil action in Northern Ireland against McKevitt, Campbell, Murphy and Daly.

The families’ civil action saw the men ordered to pay them €2.2m but so far they have refused to pay anything.

On April 23^rd this year, lawyers for the Omagh families succeeded in securing an order ensuring the damages were enforceable in the Republic, as well as the North, in front of the Master of the High Court Edmund Honohan.

Nobody has ever been convicted for the murders in Omagh, which claimed the lives of 29 people and two unborns.

McKevitt to begin series of temporary releases

Michael McKevitt

Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt is set to begin an ongoing programme of temporary releases within weeks to prepare him for his full release from prison next year after a u-turn on the issue by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.

The 65-year-old, from Beech Park in Blackrock, is nearing the end of a 20-year sentence and is now scheduled to enjoy a first short period of temporary release, likely for a weekend, by the end of the month.

A spokesman for Ms Fitzgerald said: “It is not the policy nor would it be appropriate for the Department to make any comment regarding the detail of the management of any individual prisoner’s sentence.”

Stephen McKevitt, Michael’s eldest son, said while his father was still not being released from Portlaoise Prison for a prolonged period to recover from having a cancerous kidney removed, the family welcomed the reinstatement of his pre-release programme, which is not linked to his illness.

“After our campaign began to gain some momentum which included the support of a number of TDs, Francis Fitzgerald reinstated the pre-release programme without explanation,” he said of the decision taken last Friday.

“My family is seeking clarity as to why the pre-release programme was revoked in the first place, then reinstated within days and most importantly why my father was returned to prison without even a basic medical assessment.”

McKevitt Snr, who was one of four men found liable for the 1998 Omagh bombing in a civil action taken by relatives of the dead, is serving 20 years for directing terrorism and was also convicted of membership of an illegal organisation.

He was returned to prison last month 5½ weeks after surgery to have a cancerous kidney removed.

His family told The Irish Times last week they believed he needed up to three months recovery at home. They added his being returned to prison on June 22nd came with no warning after three months of release on health grounds and was a political decision rather than a medical one.

They also said that a pre-release programme agreed for him from the present time to the expiry of his sentence next Easter had been cancelled without explanation at the same time he was returned to jail the week before last.

Source: The Irish Times

Omagh families give mixed reaction to TDs supporting McKevitt’s release from prison

Michael McKevitt

The news that a number of TDs are supporting the release from prison of Michael McKevitt as he recovers from surgery prompted some different reactions from the victims of the 1998 Real IRA Omagh bombing.

Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann in the explosion which killed 29 people including a woman heavily pregnant with twin girls, told The Irish Times he felt “angry and bitter” that the TDs were lobbying on McKevitt’s behalf.

Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomenadied in the explosion, on the other hand said he had no objection to McKevitt being released on compassionate grounds.

Mr McCombe (66) said his wife “would not be released from the grave” while “irrespective of whether he is an ill man or not” McKevitt was at least alive.

“For these TDs to be coming along and wanting his release are not fighting for any justice for my wife and for everybody else that was murdered in Omagh,” he said.

A spokesperson for Omagh Support & Self Help Group said they were “disappointed but not surprised” at the TDs support of McKevitt, adding: “We feel that there is no respite from the life sentence which terrorists have inflicted on their victims and their families and compassion was not a consideration when they planted bombs with the intention to murder innocent civilians.”

Mr Skelton however said he had no objection to his release. “I am not a bitter person. I have lost loved ones through cancer. I would have no objections,” he said. “I don’t want to see families suffering. No matter what he did or didn’t do you can’t blame the family.”

Mr Skelton, whose daughter Shauna was badly injured in the blast, said that neither he nor his family bore feelings of hatred any more.

Of McKevitt he said, “He has done a fair stretch as it is. There are a lot of people who committed horrendous crimes over the last 30-40 years and served a lot less, and got out and there was no word about it. I would have no objections, none at all, I am more interested in looking to the future than looking back.”

“I would have no feelings of being betrayed or anything else; no, none at all,” he added.

Mr Skelton made the point that McKevitt wasn’t actually convicted for the Omagh bombing but as the Real IRA leader he was imprisoned for directing terrorism.

He also observed that no one has been convicted in a criminal court for the Omagh murders. “They were fit to convict him, why were they not fit to convict the rest?” he said.

Mr Skelton said he had “no problem” with the TDs lobbying on McKevitt’s behalf. “I could not care less, that’s being honest. If he gets out he gets out. If he doesn’t he doesn’t, it makes no difference to me,” he said.

“But on compassionate grounds there comes a time when you have to let go. We are supposed to be humane; I am one of those people who would have a bit of humanity within me no matter what somebody done to me. So, I have no objection if they have put up a petition. It won’t change my life or anything,” added Mr Skelton.

Source: The Irish Times

TDs support McKevitt’s release from prison

Michael McKevitt

The family of jailed dissident republican leader Michael McKevitt have received the support of five TDs in lobbying for him to be released while recovering from recent surgery.

The five who have lobbied Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald include former Fianna Fáil minister Éamon Ó Cuív and Independents Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, Maureen O’Sullivan and Thomas Pringle according to a report in today’s Irish Times.

McKevitt, who was one of four men found liable for the 1998 Omagh bombing in a civil action taken by relatives of the dead, had a cancerous kidney removed in May.

The 65-year-old, from Beech Park in Blackrock, is currently in his final year of a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism. He was also convicted of membership of an illegal organisation, the Real IRA.

“Those TDs who have recently campaigned on behalf of my father see this for what it is – a humanitarian issue,” McKevitt’s eldest son, Stephen McKevitt, told The Irish Times today,

“And they agree that my father should be afforded the same rights as anybody else.”

He said he did not believe any other prisoner who had undergone major surgery would be returned to jail 5½ weeks later.

His father did not have access to in-cell sanitation in Portlaoise Prison or to the standard of medical care required by those recovering after having an organ removed.

Stephen McKevitt said his father had spent 14½ years “as a political prisoner [and] has never sought any form of special treatment”.

He added his family had been told Ms Fitzgerald had personally intervened to ensure Michael was returned to prison last week after three months of temporary release.

While McKevitt’s illness has been well-documented, the fact he had been temporarily released for three months was not known before now.

Source: The Irish Times

McKevitt refused early release from prison following appeal

Michael McKevitt

Dissident Republican Michael McKevitt lost an appeal last week against a High Court judgement refusing him early release from prison.

The 65-year-old, from Beech Park in Blackrock, Co Louth was jailed by the non-jury Special Criminal Court for 20 years in 2003, backdated to 2001, for directing terrorism and for membership of an illegal organization, styling itself as the Real IRA.

With the normal one-quarter remission generally afforded to prisoners, McKevitt is due for release from Portlaoise Prison in July 2016.

McKevitt had applied for a further 8 per cent off his sentence arguing that his participation in structured prison activities, such as art, drama, French, home economics and yoga classes, meant he was less likely to re-offend and was therefore entitled to one-third remission rather than the one-quarter generally afforded to prisoners.

The High Court ruled last year that the Minister for Justice was entitled to refuse McKevitt’s application for one-third remission and he sought to appeal that decision last month.

In a written judgment dismissing his appeal, Ms Justice Mary Irvine said the Minister was entitled “not to close her mind to other relevant and possibly more dominant” material concerning McKevitt’s likelihood to re-offend, including garda advice.

Source: The Irish Times.

Bombs made in Dromiskin had been earmarked to kill Prince Charles and wife Camilla

The front page of today’s Mirror

The IRA had plotted to line the route of Prince Charles and Camilla’s tour of Ireland next wek with bombs made in Dromiskin, according to reports today.

The terrorists, some of whom were arrested in Louth in the last 48 hours, had targeted a number of locations that the royal couple were set to visit to ensure they could not avoid being hit.

According to today’s Irish Daily Mirror, the explosives were thought to have been packed with ­ball-bearings and scrap metal to maximise the carnage, meaning dozens of other innocent people would have been killed or maimed.

Seven men have so far been arrested after the deadly plot was foiled. Two were found with ­improvised ­explosives and a handgun.

The bombs were found in Dromiskin, outside Dundalk.

They were both complete and in component parts. Some were ready to be loaded into two cars to be taken to their intended murder site with security experts comparing them to the Omagh bomb in August 1998.

The seven men arrested, all prominent Republicans, were being quizzed in police stations across Ireland last night.

They were held in Louth, Kildare, Leitrim, Wexford and Dublin.

One is a senior figure with ­connections to ­assassinated Real IRA leader Alan Ryan and jailed terrorist Michael McKevitt, from Blackrock. He was linked to the Omagh town centre bombing which killed 29 people and left 220 others injured.

Four arrested for suspected dissident Republican activity

Four men remain in custody this morning following their arrest yesterday in relation to dissident republican activity.

Gardaí carried out more than 20 searches in three counties, including Louth, yesterday, with reports suggesting that a leading figure in the Republican movement is amongst those who have been detained.

The arrests come as Gardaí step up their anti-terrorism investigations ahead of the visit of Prince Charles to Ireland next week.

Three of the men arrested are in the 20s, while the other is in his 60s.

The four men arrested have suspected links to the Real IRA and were detained in Louth and Wexford.

The army bomb disposal team was called in to make safe the scenes in Courtown, Co Wexford and an unspecified location north of Dundalk.

The quartet are being held in connection with a number of alleged offences including directing terrorism, membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of explosives as bomb components were found.

McKevitt appeals decision to refuse him early release from prison

Michael McKevitt

Republican Michael McKevitt has launched an appeal against the High Court’s decision to refuse him early release from prison.

The 66-year-old, from Beech Park in Blackrock, was jailed by the non-jury Special Criminal Court for 20 years in 2003, backdated to 2001, for directing terrorism and for membership of an illegal organisation styling itself as the Real IRA.

With the normal one-quarter remission generally afforded to prisoners, McKevitt is due for release from Portlaoise Prison in July 2016.

McKevitt had applied for a further 8 per cent off his sentence, arguing that his participation in structured prison activities, such as art, drama, French, home economics and yoga classes, meant he was entitled to one-third remission rather than the one-quarter generally afforded to prisoners.

The High Court ruled last year that the Minister for Justice was entitled to refuse McKevitt’s application for one-third remission and he sought to appeal that decision on Wednesday in the Court of Appeal, with a decision on the matter to be made soon.

McKevitt loses prison release bid

Michael McKevitt

Michael McKevitt, who is serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism and membership of the Real IRA, has failed in his bid to be released from prison immediately.

McKevitt, from Beech Park in Blackrock, claimed that his participation in structured prison activities entitled him to enhanced one third remission of his prison sentence.

He claimed he was entitled to such remission because he had participated in activities including computer courses, speech and drama, art, French, yoga and an Open University course in creative writing.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said she was entitled to refuse him remission taking into account garda views and other matters relating to his risk of reoffending.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly ruled yesterday that participation in structured activities in prison had as its object a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending but he said the minister must be satisfied such an object had been achieved.

Simply because a prisoner engaged in structured activities, he said, that did not mean a reduction in the likelihood of reoffending had automatically been achieved.

He said the minister was entitled to take into account all of the matters before her.

And he said even if one excluded the evidence of gardaí then there was an abundance of other material allowing the minister to reach her decision to refuse to grant him enhanced remission.

He refused to quash her decision and rejected McKevitt’s application.

Source: RTÉ News

IRA leader remission case before High Court

Michael McKevitt

A legal challenge against the alleged failure of the Minister for Justice to release convicted IRA leader Michael McKevitt, under a scheme of enhanced remission of sentence is under way at the High Court.

McKevitt, 59, from Beech Park, Blackrock, Co Louth was jailed for 20 years in 2003 for directing terrorism and membership of the Real IRA.

He claims he is entitled to one third remission of his sentence for good behaviour and participation in structured activities designed to prepare him for release.

His legal challenge is focussed on the interpretation of a prison rule allowing for enhanced remission.

His lawyers claimed that if proper consideration for a one-third enhanced remission had been given he would have been released last July.

In a hearing before Mr Justice Peter Kelly his barrister Michael O’Higgins said he was a model prisoner who had engaged and performed well in a number of courses.

However the State argues that he has not engaged with the Probation services, is  on a “republican landing” and is a spokesperson for republican prisoners.

Mr O’Higgins said the prison rules had until recently been inadequate in that no guidelines or information were  available on they types of structured activities which would be given more weight in assessing eligibility for enhanced remission.

He said prisoners did not have to prove they would not reoffend they only had to show they were less likely to reoffend. Under the rules as they stood, it was an inevitable inference by taking part in authorised structured activities that this was the case, he said.

After recent High Court judgments the State had introduced fresh rules but for six years since the introduction of the rules they had remained unclear, Mr O’Higgins said.

The hearing continues before Justice Peter Kelly.

Source: RTÉ News.