18/06/2003

Alleged Real IRA leader appears in court

The trial of alleged Real IRA Michael McKevitt leader has begun in Dublin today.

Mr McKevitt, 53, was due to appear at Dublin's Special Criminal Court charged with directing terrorism, the first person to face this particular charge in the Republic of Ireland.

He also faces charges of membership of an illegal organisation and could face a term of life in prison if found guilty of the charges.

The Real IRA, which is opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process, were behind the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998 which killed 29 people.

The trial, which is expected to last for up to six weeks, follows civil action brought by the families of Omagh bomb victims.

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