Dissident republican Michael McKevitt hid over £20,000 sterling of personal wealth when he sought legal aid to fight a civil action brought by Omagh bomb victims, a court heard today.
The convicted former "Real IRA" leader's alleged financial resources emerged as his lawyers failed to convince a judge their client's right to a fair hearing was being denied because the authorities have refused to fund his defence.
McKevitt (54), is one of five men being sued in a landmark £10 million sterling case by some relatives of the 29 people murdered in the Omagh massacre. Apart from a brief denial of any involvement in the August 1998 attack, he has put together no detailed argument to counter the families' claims.
Belfast High Court was told McKevitt could not prepare a proper defence until assistance is provided. His barrister, Mr Frank O'Donoghue QC, said: "Towards the end of 2002 there was a problem with the legal aid position of Mr McKevitt.
"In the legal aid application form there had been allegedly a failure to disclose a capital sum of £23,000."
McKevitt, of Blackrock, Co Lough, was jailed for 20 years in August 2003 after the Special Criminal Court in Dublin found him guilty of running the "Real IRA". His conviction was seen as a huge boost for the Omagh families attempting to show in the civil courts he was responsible the worst single atrocity during Northern Ireland's bloodshed.
The other terrorist suspects named in the action are Colm Murphy and Seamus McKenna, both of Silverbridge, south Armagh; Liam Campbell from Dundalk, Co Louth; and Seamus Daly of Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.
With a judicial review hearing into the decision to deny McKevitt legal aid expected to be heard within weeks, Mr Justice Morgan insisted he could not make any ruling until his team were able to put the full issues before him.
Objections to Mr David Rupert - the US trucking boss-turned-FBI spy, whose testimony was crucial in convicting McKevitt - giving evidence via a video link, were also rejected during the hearing.
Lord Brennan QC, for the Omagh relatives, told the court "There are humanitarian conditions affecting Mr Rupert. He is living in secret circumstances in America in fear of his life."
PA