FBI agent Mr David Rupert told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday that he developed the character of a smuggler and drug dealer to help him infiltrate dissident republican groups.
The US businessman also said he had been given coaching in court etiquette by a consultant for MI 5 named "Turtle".
It was the 15th day of the trial of Mr Michael McKevitt (53), of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth. who denies membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann between August 29th, 1999, and March 28th, 2001. He also denies directing the activities of the same organisation.
Mr Rupert (51), a former trucking company boss and bar owner, has told the court he infiltrated dissident republican groups for the FBI and the British Security Service (MI5).
He said he began developing the character of a criminal in association with the FBI in 1995 and if republican groups checked him out, they would have come across "street evidence" to back it up. He said he developed a persona who "apparently knew the criminal underworld".
He had developed the character with the FBI and the British security service and it would have "checked out" in the New York State town where he lived.
"If you went to check in Massena you would find by asking around that I was a smuggler, drug dealer, whatever," he said. "That wasn't so, but it was used for developing the cover."
Mr Rupert said he had owned a trucking business and 95 per cent of his business was across the Canadian border, so there was an assumption that he was a smuggler.
Mr Rupert was asked by Mr Hugh Hartnett SC, defending, about an FBI file note of a meeting on September 15th, 2000, when it was recorded that Rupert "related much about his earlier criminal and smuggling background". Mr Rupert replied: "I do not remember saying that because I would not say that because I did not have a criminal and smuggling background."
Mr Rupert said he agreed to testify against Mr McKevitt because they mentioned to him "a large sum of money" which he knew he would need to take care of his family's security in the event of him agreeing to testify.
"They said in the right circumstances would I be interested in testifying. I said I wasn't really but I would broach it with my wife."
The trial continues.