Northern Ireland

Real IRA founding member Mickey McKevitt dies aged 71

Former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt pictured in 2008
Former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt pictured in 2008 Former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt pictured in 2008

THE funeral of former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt will take place tomorrow in Co Louth.

The 71-year-old, who was one of four men found liable for the 1998 Omagh bomb, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a number of years ago and died on Saturday.

He was released from prison in 2016 after serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.

McKevitt, who was married Bernadette Sands McKevitt, a sister of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, was active republican with the Provisional IRA since the 1970s.

A native of Co Louth, McKevitt survived a gun attack by the Official IRA in 1975.

While the Provisionals and Officials were locked in a bitter feud that year, sources say McKevitt's shooting resulted from a dispute over weapons.

He went on to serve as the Quartermaster General of the Provisional IRA, a central role that involved the management of the IRA's huge arsenal.

He held a key role in the 1980s when the IRA imported tonnes of modern weapons, ammunition and explosives from Libya.

Sources say that within republicanism McKevitt was a respected figure rather than feared.

Viewed as a militarist, those who knew him say he was quiet by nature and not given to small talk.

The prominent republican was one of four men found liable for the Omagh bomb which claimed the lives of 29 people, although he denied involvement in the devastating attack.

The group was ordered them to pay a total of £1.6 million damages to 12 relatives who had taken a case.

In 2019, he was adjudicated bankrupt in the High Court following failure to pay out the damages.

Married to Bernadette Sands McKevitt, the couple lived in the seaside village of Blackrock, which is near Dundalk in Co Louth.

The father-of-six was opposed to the republican movement's involvement in the peace process and went on to become a founding member of the Real IRA after a split with the Provisionals 1997.

The departure came after the Provisionals called a ceasefire in July 1997.

During a convention held later that year in Co Donegal McKevitt called for an end to the ceasefire and participation in the evolving peace process.

Despite his appeals a majority of those present backed the Provisional leadership.

Later that year McKevitt and others aligned to his thinking formed a new organisation, which retained the name Irish Republican Army.

The organisation was later widely referred to as the Real IRA and carried out attacks both in the north and England.

Arrested in 2001, he and the majority of Real IRA prisoners held in Portaoise Prison in Co Laois issued a statement in October 2002 calling for the organisation to stand down.

The call was subsequently rejected by many within the organisation's ranks, particularly in the north.

In August 2003 he was found guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin of "membership of an illegal organisation" and "directing terrorism" - the first person to be convicted of the offence in the south - and given a 20 year sentence.

He was convicted on the testimony of American David Rupert, who was an FBI informer.

McKevitt later appealed his conviction on several grounds including that Rupert had been paid by both the FBI and MI5.

Both convictions were later upheld and an subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected in 2008.

He was released from prison in 2016.

In a statement Republican Network for Unity said:

"We and the entire Republican family remember Michael fondly as a comrade, a friend and above everything else as a committed Republican leader, who fought the might of the British establishment throughout his entire life."

The funeral is expected to be conducted in line with current coronavirus guidelines in the Republic with only family members present at his Requiem Mass.

His funeral cortege will leave his home tomorrow before making its way along Main Street in Blackrock to St. Fursey’s Church, Haggardstown, for 11am.