The founder of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, has died in hospital following a long battle with cancer.
The 71-year-old - one of four men found liable for the Omagh bombing following a landmark civil action by relatives of some of the victims - died at Dublin s Beaumont Hospital yesterday. Family members were at his bedside.
McKevitt was married to Bernadette Sands-McKevitt, a sister of 1981 hunger striker and MP Bobby Sands.
Senior security sources expressed concerns yesterday at his expected military funeral and about how gardaí would ensure mourners accede to Covid guidelines .
One senior source has confirmed there would be a garda presence at McKevitt s funeral given his criminal background and because of adherence to funeral regulations during the pandemic.
tragic event
Members of black community call for calm after protests demanding justice for George Nkencho shot dead by gardai
MEMBERS of the black community have called for calm after protests demanding justice for George Nkencho.
The 27-year-old was shot dead by gardai following a stand-off in Clonee, west Dublin on Wednesday.
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Following his death protestors took to the streets calling for justiceCredit: PA:Press Association
Leon Diop, who runs the Black and Irish podcast and Facebook page, said fury was inevitable when black people here have seen the death of George Floyd and others at the hands of US police.
A garda mole tipped off terror chief Michael McKevitt that his Dundalk home was to be raided by police, a damning collusion report revealed.
Details about how a rogue Dundalk-based cop warned the then Provo quartermaster to remove false passports from his house were contained within the Smithwick Tribunal report in 2013.
The investigation was set up in 2005 to examine allegations that Irish police officers had helped the IRA murder RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan in March 1989 following a meeting at Dundalk Garda Station.
The probe ruled there was collusion in the killings.
Gardai were tapping the Louth home phone of McKevitt when a caller who rang the line in January 1990 was recorded telling the republican: You will be having visitors in the morning.
Former Real IRA leader dies following battle with cancer
Michael McKevitt had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a number of years ago.
Former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt has died following a battle with cancer.
McKevitt, who was one of four men found liable for the Omagh bomb, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a number of years ago.
He was released from prison in 2016 after serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.
The 71-year-old was married to Bernadette Sands McKevitt, a sister of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
From Co Louth, McKevitt always denied being involved in the 1998 Omagh bombing, but in 2009 a judge ruled in a landmark civil trial that McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the bomb.