In short
Episode topic: FBI/MI5 spy David Rupert’s infiltration of the Real IRA and the chain of evidence that leads to the conviction of Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt for directing terrorism connected to the Omagh bombing plot.
Guest backgrounds
No guests appear in this episode transcript; it’s a dramatized narrative with named real-world organizations (FBI, MI5, Irish police) and characters.
Key claims
Rupert accidentally gives assassin James Smith a disc containing Rupert’s intelligence notes; MI5 later uses a “Saddam” arms-deal deception to time arrests; Rupert’s testimony is pivotal for McKevitt’s first-ever conviction under Irish anti-terror laws.
Notable examples
July 2000 MI6 rocket attack in London; Rupert’s cash handoff to McKevitt in Dundalk; MI5 officer “Samir” posing as an Iraqi envoy; McKevitt’s arrest in Blackrock (March 2001); Rupert’s courtroom identification and McKevitt’s 20-year sentence (released 2016, died 2021).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOConsequences of a Slip
3:51 to 7:33
Rupert's anxiety grows as he worries about the implications of the disc.
“From Audible Originals, this is The Spy Who.”
Real IRA's Bold Attack
7:33 to 11:03
A brazen attack on MI6 showcases the real IRA's capabilities and intentions.
“Two months later, September 20th, 2000, Vauxhall Gardens, London.”
Quest for Funding
11:03 to 13:31
Rupert and McEvitt discuss the need for a state sponsor to further their goals.
“I don't know, but sometimes these things turn up once you put the word out.”
Quest for Funding
13:41 to 14:47
Rupert and McEvitt discuss the need for a state sponsor to further their goals.
“And Enterprise is turning every corner kick goal into your chance to win a car.”
Rupert's Espionage Begins
15:18 to 18:00
Discover the early stages of Rupert's espionage with the real IRA.
“A few weeks later, November 2000, McKevitt's house, BlackRock, Ireland.”
The Tension of a Final Meeting
18:00 to 21:44
Experience Rupert's anxiety before a crucial meeting with an assassin.
“Two months later, Worcester, Massachusetts.”
Navigating Danger with the Police
21:44 to 24:34
Follow Rupert as he guides police to crucial locations under threat.
“The FBI agents enter the room, grinning.”
Confronting Family After Exposure
24:34 to 27:18
Witness the emotional aftermath of Rupert's exposure to his family.
“How could everything be in doubt because of roadworks?”
The Ultimatum to Testify
27:18 to 28:00
Explore the difficult choice Rupert faces about testifying in court.
“Maureen reaches over and puts a calming hand on David Rupert's leg.”
The Reluctance to Testify
28:00 to 30:00
Rupert grapples with the dangers of testifying against McEvitt.
“It might be our one and only chance to take McEvitt out of the game.”
Show all 17 chapters
Samir's Undercover Operation
30:00 to 31:56
MI5 agent Samir prepares to engage with McEvitt regarding arms deals.
“They will never feel safe again Two months later, March 28th, 2001, London.”
The Arrest of McKevitt
31:56 to 34:46
McKevitt is arrested by police and interrogated about his IRA connections.
“Michael McKevitt leaps out of bed and runs to his bedroom window.”
Rupert's Decision to Testify
34:46 to 37:33
David Rupert is faced with a generous offer and the weight of his decision to testify.
“In a lakeside resort, David Rupert and Maureen stand on their balcony and hold hands.”
McEvitt's Trial Begins
37:33 to 41:49
The trial commences with Rupert as the star witness against McEvitt.
“He'd be a fool to pass up this deal, even if it kills him.”
Aftermath of the Trial
41:49 to 42:03
The consequences of McEvitt's conviction and the ongoing impact of the IRA.
“David and Maureen Rupert still live in hiding, somewhere in the United States.”
Aftermath of the Omagh Bombing
42:03 to 43:03
Learn about the consequences of the Omagh bombing and the evolution of the real IRA.
“of the Omar bombing, Rupert's evidence helped the victim's families bring a civil case that found McKevitt and three other men liable for the atrocity.”
Upcoming Episode Preview
43:03 to 43:32
Get a sneak peek into the next episode's discussion on espionage during the Troubles.
“Join us for the next episode as Charlie Higson sits down with author and investigative journalist Cara McCougan.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:03July 2000, Worcester, Massachusetts
0:11Sitting in his room at the Holiday Inn, FBI and MI5 spy David Rupert recognizes the knock at the door, the one that signals the arrival of real IRA assassin, Smith. Hey big man. Hey killer. Rupert's joke covers up his real anxiety. Of all the real IRA members he has met, Smith is the only one he feels killing would come to as naturally as drinking a beer. In fact, Rupert doubts he'd even put his beer down while he was putting a bullet in your forehead. He tries to keep their meetings as short as possible. This is the rocket launcher software McKevitt wanted you to look at. Rupert is still the real IRA's money mule, despite his name appearing in the Sunday Times newspaper a month ago.
1:00Some in the group wanted to cut ties with him after that, fearing he was now a liability. But real IRA leader Michael McEvitt decided the need for US money outweighed the risks of continuing to use him. But McEvitt's also got Rupert helping Smith access weaponry. Smith pockets the software disk. Thanks. I'll organise to give it back to you in a week or two. Uh, Merkevitt also wants to know why you're not in Mexico testing the weapons. Smith looks sheepish. I met a girl. She's bloody gorgeous and I think she might be the one. We did a long weekend to Quebec because I speak French from my days in the Legion.
1:45As Smith chats about his new girlfriend, Rupert is conscious the FBI is listening next door. They want recorded evidence linking Smith to real IRA guns, not details of his love life. So when will the weapons be ready? Smith looks offended at being cut off. I'm working on it. I'll let you know. Rupert nods, unwilling to push any further. After Smith departs, the FBI enter the room for a debrief.
2:16Hours later, Rupert is finally free to go. He gets in his car to drive the 14 hours back to his home in Chicago. Luckily, his trucking years mean long night drives that bother him.
2:31When he arrives back home, despite his tiredness, he heads to his computer to write a report of the meeting for MI5. He wants to get it done before he forgets the details.
2:48As he waits for his laptop to boot up he spots the disc with the rocket launcher software sitting on the table beside his computer Cold dread grips his throat It's the disc he thought he'd already given to Smith Sweat breaks out all over his body He's just given a trained IRA killer the disc containing the notes about his last trip to Ireland. Notes intended for his MI5 Spymasters.
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4:02From Audible Originals, this is The Spy Who. In the last episode, after the real IRA carried out the deadliest bombing of the Troubles in Omar, FBI and MI5 sent in spy David Rupert to win the trust of the terrorist group's leader, Michael McEvitt. But the group's threat to Northern Ireland's fragile peace is intensifying. And now, Rupert has made a potentially fatal error, handing the real IRA's sleeper assassin a disk full of intelligence he's gathered for MI5. You're listening to The Spy Who Jailed the Omar Bomb Plotter. This is Episode 3, The Reaping.
4:51It's July 2000, and Rupert is driving back to Massachusetts. He grips the steering wheel hard. The muscles across the back of his neck are rigid and painful. It's been a few days since he gave the wrong disc to Smith, and during that period, he's been frantic. His wife Maureen tried to reassure him there was nothing to worry about. Many of the notes on the disc she wrote herself as Rupert dictated them to her after meetings. She told him there was nothing on it that would link him to MI5. He could claim they were simply notes so he would remember what he needed to do when he returned to the US.
5:28But Rupert isn't so confident.
5:34The speedometer creeps higher as Rupert thinks of all the real IRA members who are growing concerned about the liability he represents and his influence over McKevitt. Rupert doesn't want to think about what happens if he loses McKevitt's protection. The knowledge that he was secretly writing down all their conversations could tip the scales against him.
6:04Rupert pulls into the car park of the Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Worcester. Smith's car is already there. To avoid Smith thinking he was worried, Rupert left it a few days before getting in touch. He casually explained he'd handed over the wrong disc and suggested they could meet for the handover when he was passing by the next day as part of a business trip. Smith said he hadn't got around to checking it and had agreed to meet Rupert to exchange discs.
6:41Smith opens his car door. The sound of Irish rock music spills into the air. Rupert tries to relax his facial muscles into an apologetic smile. Sorry about this. Maureen kept distracting me as I was packing. He hands over the rocket launcher disc, searching Smith's face for any sign of suspicion. But Smith seems as casual as ever. No problem. Lucky you caught me. I was just heading off to visit my girl. Is that all? I'm running late. Yeah, yeah, no, thanks. All good. And have fun, buddy.
7:18Rupert gives the assassin a wave and sends up a grateful prayer that Smith has a new girlfriend to distract him. Only after Smith's car disappears into the traffic does Rupert double over, suddenly breathless. He realises he hasn't breathed properly for days.
7:40Two months later, September 20th, 2000, Vauxhall Gardens, London. It's 9pm, and at a small park just a short walk from the banks of the River Thames, two men kneel on the ground. They work swiftly in the inky shade of the trees, away from the street lamps.
8:01In front of them, the multi-storey buildings between the park and the river are lit up brightly. Brightest of them all is the green glass and beige stone headquarters of Britain's Foreign Intelligence Service, MI6. One of the men steps out of the shade. He hoists a grenade rocket launcher to his shoulder. The other man stands behind him. Safety off. Angle up five degrees. Fire when ready. The two men watch the grenade arc through the air until it disappears from view. They wait. And then the noise of the explosion is followed by glass shattering and smoke rising from one of the windows of the MI6 building.
8:49Yes! The two men high-five each other before swiftly repacking the rocket launcher into its canvas kit bag. One hoisted over his shoulder and they both run towards the road where a motorbike is parked.
9:08In less than a minute, they disappear into London's streets. Such a brazen attack on Britain's spymasters ensures the real IRA will be on the front of the world's newspapers tomorrow. It's the group's second successful attack in London, following the bombing of Hammersmith Bridge earlier in the year. There have also been bombings in Northern Ireland, including of the Dublin to Belfast railway line and a police station in Stewartstown. all with the aim of shattering Northern Ireland's fragile peace.
9:42The following month, Dundalk, Ireland. In a restaurant owned by a real IRA supporter, David Rupert and Michael McEvitt are sat in a booth, partitioned off from the other diners. After the waitress puts their food down in front of them, Rupert takes the opportunity to hand McKevitt an envelope of cash under the table. McKevitt takes it, then narrows his eyes. Feels light. How much is there? Six thousand. Why so little? Rupert shrugs as he tucks into his chips. Well, it's getting harder to raise funds now the peace process has been voted through. People are just giving less. Also, Smith has been buying weapons with some of the money.
10:30Makevitt covers the envelope with his napkin But his expression is distracted We need more We've got real momentum, we're gaining members every day Makevitt's burger lies untouched As he ponders his problem All we need, Dave Is a state sponsor to help us take things to the next level What do you mean? In the 1980s, Gaddafi and Libya sponsored us They gave us money, weapons, training That's what we need Maybe someone like Saddam Hussein. Rupert's eyes widen at the mention of the Iraqi dictator. How would Saddam Hussein get involved? I don't know, but sometimes these things turn up once you put the word out.
11:17A few days later, MI5 headquarters, London. In a secure meeting room, Rupert's handlers from MI5 and the FBI are discussing the next steps in their joint operation. And MI5 is excited about McKevitt's desire for a state sponsor. This gives us a chance to further infiltrate McKevitt's operation. We're thinking one of our Middle Eastern officers could pose as an Iraqi. The FBI officer sitting opposite looks unimpressed. And how long will that take? No, we need at least six months. The FBI man shakes his head. We need to move to arrest as soon as possible. That means in the next few weeks. The MI5 team are stunned.
12:02What's the hurry? My delay. We've got a date when Smith is going to deliver the guns to Rupert. That's the final piece of our evidence puzzle. But it's not enough to convict McKevitt. The real IRA leader will be the first person tried under the Republic of Ireland's new anti-terror laws. To get a conviction, the Irish prosecutors will need more than Rupert's reports and a man buying guns in Massachusetts. The Saddam operation will give us robust evidence, but we need time to put it in place. If we move too soon, McEvitt will smell a rat. The FBI officer leans forward. I don't think you appreciate the political situation here.
12:42In January, President Clinton leaves the White House. Northern Ireland was his thing. The next administration will have a different agenda. Once the new president is sworn in, we'll be shifted onto new priorities immediately. We need to wrap this, or we could lose all our work over the past six years. Not to mention the$1 million both our agencies have spent on Rupert. Yeah, my five-team exchange concerned looks. What if we sped up the Saddam operation, but we need more than a month? The FBI officer gives in. Fine, we'll wait a few more months. But if it starts heading south, we will move to arrests in the US immediately.
13:25And then you're on your own with McEvitt. The MI5 team nod. They've got their chance to gather more evidence against one of the key men behind the Omar bombing. But time is not on their side.
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15:18A few weeks later, November 2000, McKevitt's house, BlackRock, Ireland. Sitting in McKevitt's study, Rupert taps quickly on a new desktop computer. Over time, he's let it be known to the real IRA that he's getting into computers and is now something of a whiz. So when McKevitt asked him to bring him a new one from America, he also asked Rupert to set it up for him. It is exactly what the FBI and MI5 were hoping for. Their computer experts had access to this PC before Rupert delivered it to McKevitt and have most likely docked at its software. McKevitt watches impressed as Rupert's fingers fly over the keys.
16:03Glad you're doing this. I hate computers. Did you use a false name to buy it, like I told you? Yeah. Anthony Blair. Please tell me you're kidding. No. You are now the owner of Tony Blair's computer. That was foolish, Dave. Really foolish. Don't you do anything like that again, you hear me? Relax. I bought it in Hobart, Indiana. No one there's going to make the connection. Rupert smiles and decides to take a risk. Are you sure you want me doing this? You know I'm a spy. Makevitz grimaces. He knows Rupert is referring to claims by Mickey Donnelly, the man who introduced them. Donnelly's anger at being sidelined by Makevitz has combined with his suspicions over Rupert's addiction to receipts.
16:50He's now telling everyone his former friend is a spy and a traitor. but McKevitt refuses to believe him. Dave, ignore Donnelly. He's just bitter because he's on the way out and he can't deal with it. Rupert feels a pang at McKevitt's steadfast loyalty when at this very moment he is installing encryption software onto his laptop that has been doctored by MI5. He puts it out of his mind. Such thoughts are a good way to get yourself killed. Rupert looks up at McKevitt. By the way, I've been putting out feelers about your foreign sponsor plan. There's a few folks I know in the trucking world who might know someone who knows someone.
17:33Not had much luck so far, though. Good man. That's all we can do. McKevitt stands and gets his coat. Gotta head off now. Just close the door behind you when you've finished, yeah? Bernadette should be back soon. Rupert nods, feeling again a pang of guilt at the trust McKevitt is putting in him. But once alone, he makes no move to search the house. He knows McKevitt has CCTV cameras covering every square inch.
18:11Two months later, Worcester, Massachusetts. In the now familiar Holiday Inn, where all his meetings with Smith take place, Rupert clenches his fists in fury. Tonight, he meets the real IRA's assassin for what should be the final time. Smith is due to bring weapons for Rupert to smuggle into Ireland. All around him, FBI agents are setting up video surveillance devices to capture the moment. Rupert usually tries to relax ahead of these meetings but a new senior agent from the FBI's New York office is pushing his buttons. Did you hear that? He needs to tell you where he got the guns. He needs to acknowledge these guns are for the real IRA, OK?
18:56The tension of the last few months suddenly erupts in Rupert. Don't tell me what to do. The other agents stare in shock but the senior FBI agent ups his own aggression in response. I'm asking you to do your fucking job, Rupert. All that money we pay you is worthless if we don't get a conviction, yeah? Well, how much is it worth if I've got a bullet in my head? Rupert looms over the senior agent and jabs his finger into his chest. I've been doing this for six years, buddy. I never ask questions I don't need to. You are going to get me killed. One of the other FBI agents steps between them. The target will be here soon.
19:36We need to get out of here.
19:48The senior FBI agent backs down as the others pack up and leave. Once he is on his own, Rupert takes deep, calming breaths, trying to move past the arguments he just had. Through the chiffon curtain, he sees Smith pull up in the car park. Here we go.
20:10All right, big man? Yeah, good, good.
20:17Smith is carrying two long, large canvas holdalls. He puts them on the bed and unzips them to reveal gun components. Two dozen Uzis, as ordered. You need me to put them together for you? Rupert represses a shudder at the thought of two dozen working Uzis and a trained assassin in the same room as himself. No, no, don't worry. I can do that. It's a lie, but Rupert wants to get rid of Smith as soon as he possibly can. Smith is doing his habitual search of the room for bugs. Anything else I need to tell McKevitt or the real IRA boys when I take them? Smith gives him a quizzical look. Nah, I think they know what to do with them.
21:10Rupert feels he has pushed his luck too far. He nods. Yeah, well, of course. I've not heard back from McKevitt about the plans to get the bomb parts to Ireland. Can you check he's approved it? Yeah, will do. Great, I'll be off then. Rupert and Smith shake hands.
21:34He watches from the window as Smith drives away and then sits heavily on the corner of the bed, lightheaded with relief. The FBI agents enter the room, grinning. They start congratulating him, even the senior agent he had had the argument with. Smith must have said enough for them to feel confident of a conviction. Well done. How does it feel? Six years of spying at an end? Rupert gives a tight smile. He doesn't know how to feel. Against the odds, he's managed to survive.
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22:12One month later, January 12th, 2001. Blackrock, Ireland. It's the early hours of the morning and Rupert is squeezed into a small, unmarked car with three Irish police officers. He's spent the last few days at a police station in Dublin, giving his statement for the case against Michael McKevitt. Now he needs to direct them to each of the locations he spoke about in the statement to help verify the truth of it. The car turns onto the street where the McKevits live. There, the two-story house in the corner with the logo. Rupert is tense. An unknown car loitering near McKevits' house at this time of night will only ever be enemies or the police.
22:58If McKevitt happens to check his CCTV cameras or look out of the window, it could get ugly. The Irish police officer makes a note and nods to the driver. OK, let's head to the bomb-making house. They drive north onto the town of Dundalk. Take the next left and then the first right. Since his first visit to the bomb-making house, when he felt hopelessly lost, Rupert has visited numerous times. He made a point of trying to memorise another bit of the journey each time. He's now confident he knows where the house is. But he hadn't counted on roadworks. Shit. The road is closed. The driver halts the car and turns to him expectantly.
23:44Now where? Uh, well, I guess back to the main road and take the next left. Rupert feels a flutter of panic. He only learned the one route to the bombmaker house. The rows of grey, identikit houses start to confuse him as they drive into unfamiliar roads. So, uh, um, take the, this, left, no, no, no, maybe the next one. The police officers look worried. Rupert knows they're not allowed to help him. He wonders if they're also starting to think he's made it all up. After all, it's common knowledge where Michael McKevitt's house is. but the bomb maker's house is a closely guarded secret. And for Rupert's story to stand up in court, it will need to be raided for evidence.
24:32He starts to feel sick. How could everything be in doubt because of roadworks? Then he recognises a turning. This one. Take the right here. The car turns into the road, and with relief, Rupert sees the house ahead of them.
24:54A few days later, Indiana.
25:02David Rupert's wife, Maureen, looks up at the apartments they've parked in front of. She's nervous. Her daughter, Dory, lives here. The last time they saw each other was Dory's graduation ceremony for her law degree. It had been a deliriously happy moment for all of them. But a few weeks later, the Sunday Times article came out, identifying Rupert as a member of the real IRA. Well, guess I better do this. Rupert squeezes her shoulder in sympathy. He knows how hard this will be. Maureen's family did not react well to the article. There have already been heated words between her parents and Rupert.
25:44It's been made harder by the fact that they haven't been able to reveal the truth. But now, Maureen is here to do just that for Dory.
25:55Dory emerges from the front door as her mother walks up the path. Her arms are crossed and her eyes flit coldly from Rupert sitting in the car to her mother approaching her. If you've come to tell me about the IRA stuff, I already know we all do. Maureen's eyes spontaneously fill with tears at her daughter's harsh tone. Before she met Rupert, it was just her and Dory. Maureen scrimped and saved everything she made in the trucking business to make sure Dory had the life and education she had missed out on when she became a teenage mother. I know you do, love, but I've come to tell you the truth.
26:34David isn't with the IRA. He's been spying on them for the FBI and MI5. We both have, for the past six years. What? Dory's arms fall to her side. As a kaleidoscope of emotions pass over her face, Maureen comes closer and takes her hand. It's all over now, but I'm afraid that means we have to go into hiding. And I'm so sorry, darling, but for your own sake. I'm not sure when I'll be allowed to see you again, but why? How? As Dory struggles to make sense of it, Maureen folds her daughter into a hug, tears streaming down her face.
27:22One week later, FBI officers, Chicago. Maureen reaches over and puts a calming hand on David Rupert's leg. It is twitching uncontrollably under the table, a sure sign of stress. Opposite them is their FBI handler, Mark, and two Irish police officers who have flown over for the meeting. They want Rupert to testify in court against real IRA founder Michael McEvitt. And Rupert is furious. I told you before, I am not testifying in any court case. One of the Irish policemen leans forward. Look, David, this law has never been tested in court. It might be our one and only chance to take McEvitt out of the game.
28:07A statement just isn't as strong as testifying. No way. There's nothing in my contract about testifying. I've done enough. You got what you paid for. Rupert's FBI handler, Mark, intervenes. I know what your contract says, but we still haven't negotiated your post-spy contract. We're prepared to be very generous if you do this. Rupert glares back at Mark. They'll kill me. Before the trial, or after it, ten years from now, every Irish Republican in the world will know my face. you will have the highest level of witness protection, David. I promise you, they won't find you or Maureen. Rupert jumps to his feet and leans across the table threateningly.
28:50I have finished. I got you everything you wanted. You lot won't be happy until I am dead. Rupert storms out. In the awkward silence that follows, Mark looks at Maureen. Can't you persuade him, Maureen? He listens to you. Maureen shakes her head. Rupert has become increasingly paranoid after a persistent journalist managed to track him down. The trial could bring him to breaking point. Mark moves to the seat Rupert has just vacated and takes Maureen's hand. Look, outside of David's testimony, we've only got phone calls. But McKevitt uses aliases. We need David to identify him and his voice. Maureen, if we don't nail McKevitt this time then the real IRA will keep killing people There could be another Omar bombing Maureen looks at him, stricken The faces of the children who died in that bomb still haunt her at night But can she really ask her husband to put his head into a potential noose?
29:55If he testifies, his face will be splashed across the world's media as an IRA traitor They will never feel safe again
30:15Two months later, March 28th, 2001, London. MI5 agent Samir watches the mobile phone on the table in front of him, waiting for it to ring. For weeks, he's been reeling in the real IRA by pretending to be an envoy for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Now, he's expecting McKevitt to call to hammer out a mythical arms deal with the Iraqis. The two counter-terrorism police officers sitting next to Samir give him the thumbs up that the recording has started. Hello, this is Samir. It's Karl. Carl is the pseudonym McEvitt is using for these calls. Samir knows each call the real IRA makes is on a burner phone that is then thrown away.
31:06Hello, Carl. We are two to three days away from having your shipment ready. I need to come to work now to inspect that. If you think that is necessary, you must tell me when you expect to arrive so I can have everything ready at the airport. Where's our money? We were promised one million euros, but it hasn't arrived yet. Many people are involved in this decision, I'm afraid. There's nothing I can do. We need our money now. I got everything ready to attack London. Any delay, we lose momentum. I understand. I promise we're working as quickly as possible. Please be patient. After the call, Samir breathes a sigh of relief.
31:46McKevitt sounds irritated, but not suspicious. He's not made the connection between his chats with Rupert and Samir's conveniently timed arrival. And now MI5 has enough evidence to greenlight the arrests.
32:07Dawn, the next morning. McEvitt's house, Blackrock, Ireland. I've got her! I've got her! Michael McKevitt leaps out of bed and runs to his bedroom window. Outside is a sea of police cars and officers with semi-automatic weapons. His wife Bernadette hurriedly puts on a dressing gown as the police run up the stairs towards their bedroom. I'm Goddard! Michael McKevitt, you are hereby charged with membership of an illegal organisation and directing terrorism. You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be written down and used in evidence.
32:51A few hours later, police interview room, Dublin. In a sparsely decorated grey room, McKevitt leans back in his chair and smiles at his interviewer. No, I am not a member of the IRA. McKevitt feels relaxed. He's been arrested many times. He knows the drill. He refuses to answer anything except to deny membership of the IRA. It's a strategy that has served him well. He has never once been sent to prison. The counter-terrorist police officer interviewing him locks eyes with him. Michael, I know that's not true. I put it to you that you've been a member of the provisional IRA since 1969. You are the head of the dissident group known as the Real IRA.
33:40Makevitt shakes his head. Michael, I have to warn you that under new laws enacted in the Republic of Ireland, inference can be drawn from your silence. Makevitt rolls his eyes and leans forward to speak into the microphone on the recording device. I am not a member of the IRA. The counter-terrorism officer lets the silence drag on for a moment as McKevitt folds his arms smugly. The officer picks up the manila folder he's had unopened on the table next to him. Tell me, Michael, do you know a David Rupert from the United States? McKevitt narrows his eyes as a photo of Rupert is slid across the table to him.
34:29In the folder, he can also see receipts he signed personally when Rupert handed him the money from the US. For the first time, he senses he may be in trouble.
34:46A year later, April 2002, Wisconsin. In a lakeside resort, David Rupert and Maureen stand on their balcony and hold hands. Below them, families enjoy a huge pool. In the distance, speedboats sit past with water skiers weaving behind. They step back into the hotel apartment with its luxurious decor. Mark, their FBI handler, smiles at them both. Nice, huh? Rupert scowls. The FBI are on a charm offensive. Two Irish police officers are arriving soon to once again try to convince Rupert to testify at McKevitt's trial. Not nice enough to tempt me to take a bullet for you. Maureen picks up a beach bag.
35:32She's managed to get Rupert to this meeting, but she's agreed the final decision about testifying must be his. I'll leave you two to it. I'm heading to the pool.
35:46Mark sits on the sofa and gestures for Rupert to take a seat. Look, David, I said we were prepared to be generous, and I meant it. We know how difficult the trial will be and the risks you feel you are taking. Rupert pointedly refuses to sit down. He stands foursquare with his head dangerously close to the low wooden ceiling. I'm authorised to offer you and Maureen just over$19 ,000 a month for the rest of your life. Rupert is startled. It's far more money than he expected. Mark, sensing his advantage, pushes on. And MI5 will pay you a handsome bonus on top of this, if you testify. Rupert paces the room distractedly.
36:33It's a lot of money. He'd be set for life. Such an amount would also mean financial security for Maureen if he were to be killed. That is a generous offer. Mark leans forward. That's not all. We're also willing to negotiate a deal with the Inland Revenue Service on your tax bill. Rupert's often complained about his ever-increasing tax bill that has risen in line with his spy earnings. He is currently trying to pay it off in installments. We'll reduce it to the level it was in 1994, before you became a spy. The US government is agreeing to forego more than$700 ,000 in tax. Without that hanging over him, he and Maureen could finally buy their own house on a patch of land, something they always dreamed of.
37:23Mark cocks his head to one side. What do you say? Rupert chews his lip, but he knows the fee has finally outweighed the risk. He'd be a fool to pass up this deal, even if it kills him. One year on, June 18th, 2002. Dublin, Ireland. Michael McEvitt paces his holding cell beneath the courthouse. His trial starts today. Helicopters are circling in the air above, and outside he can hear the shouts and camera clicks of the world's media. Although he's not been charged with anything relating to it, the trial has been linked to the real IRA's role in the Omar bombing, and he knows that will work against him.
38:09He spins round at the sound of the key in his cell door, glad to have the waiting over with.
38:18As he enters the historic wood-paneled courtroom, there is a commotion high up in the public gallery that overlooks them. I hope you're proud of yourself, you fucking murdering bitch! Ignore the burning. McEvitt realises the benches are packed not only with press, but with the relatives of the 200-plus victims of the Omar bombing. They've surrounded his stony-faced wife, Bernadette Sands, who sits with a small group of supporters. He raises a clenched fist salute to her. There are tears in her eyes as she returns it. He's immediately pushed forward by the unimpressed police officers behind him.
38:56The dock is over there. I am a Republican, not a criminal. Before the officer can respond, Akevet deliberately sits next to the dock, not in it. The police are used to this from IRA prisoners. They shrug and sit on either side of him.
39:18Three scarlet-robed judges enter and take their places. There is no jury for trials involving terrorism and organised crime. As the lawyers begin their opening addresses, McKevitt senses the anticipation in the air. Everyone is waiting for the first and star witness. I now call David Rupert. Rupert enters the court. The huge American dwarfs the witness stand and squeezes into it with difficulty. McKevitt has never wanted to shoot a person so badly as the traitor sitting only a few metres away from him, a man he had trusted, defended, even thought of as a friend. Mr Rupert, for the court, could you please identify Michael McKevitt?
40:09Rupert's eyes swivel and meet McKevitt's. With satisfaction, he sees a flash of fear ripple across Rupert's face. That's him in the body of the courtroom between the two guarda. Rupert looks away quickly, and McKevitt vows to himself that Rupert will be hunted down and his body dumped in a ditch, the only fitting end for snitches. But as Rupert's testimony continues, McKevitt begins to feel a knot. of worry. Despite Rupert's sometimes shady past, his defence team are failing to land any killer blows. His barrister begins attacking Rupert over the issue of unpaid debts to his first father-in-law.
40:52And you thought that was an appropriate way to behave to your own family, did you? Knowing he had lent you a considerable amount from his own savings. An unpayment of a loan is pretty far short of murder. Rupert turns and looks deliberately at McKevitt and the look is steely. With a shock, McKevitt realises Rupert was no friend and snitch, but a man sent to bring him down from the start. With a bitter taste swilling in his mouth, he realises he should have listened to Mickey bloody donally.
41:32Michael McEvitt became the first man ever convicted in the Irish Republic of directing terrorism under laws drafted in response to the Omar bombing. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but released in 2016 after contracting kidney cancer. He died in 2021. David and Maureen Rupert still live in hiding, somewhere in the United States. Rupert's testimony is thought to have been the chief factor in securing McKevitt's conviction. While no one has ever been convicted of the Omar bombing, Rupert's evidence helped the victim's families bring a civil case that found McKevitt and three other men liable for the atrocity.
42:14At the time of recording in late 2025, the public inquiry is underway in Britain into whether MI5 and other government agencies could have done more to prevent the Omar bombing. The real IRA assassin, James Smith, was arrested in Boston, but the FBI did not charge him with terrorism offences. Instead, he was deported to Ireland and barred from the US. After McKevitt was convicted, the real IRA lost momentum and members. In 2012, it merged with other dissident Republican groups to create the new IRA, which has struggled to mount a large-scale paramilitary campaign. Despite many challenges, the Good Friday Agreement has held for more than a quarter of a century.
43:03Join us for the next episode as Charlie Higson sits down with author and investigative journalist Cara McCougan. Together, they uncover the astonishing scale of espionage during the Troubles, including how deeply the IRA was infiltrated with spies. And what happens when agents become killers?
43:32From Audible Originals, this is the third episode in our season, The Spy Who Jailed the Omar Bomb Blotter. A quick note about our dialogue. We can't know everything that was said or done behind closed doors, particularly far back in history. but our scenes are written using the best available sources so even if a scene or conversation has been recreated for dramatic effect it's still based on biographical research. We use many sources in our research for this season including The Accidental Spy by Sean O'Driscoll. The Spy Who is hosted by me, Raza Jaffrey. Our show was produced by Vespucci with writing and story editing by Yellow Ant for Audible.
44:18For Yellow Ant, this episode was written by Judy Cooper and researched by Louise Byrne. Our managing producer is Jay Priest. For Vespucci, our senior producer is Ashley Clivery. Our sound designer is Alex Portfelix. Natalia Rodriguez is the supervising producer. Music supervisor is Scott Velasquez for Frisson Sync. Executive producers for Vespucci are Johnny Galvin and Daniel Turkin. Executive producer for Yellow Ant is Tristan Donovan Executive producers for Audible are Estelle Doyle Theodore Leloudis and Marshall Louis
45:04Follow The Spy Who on the Audible app or wherever you get your podcasts You can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who ad-free by joining Audible
From the publisher
With the Real IRA accelerating its bombing campaign, FBI-MI5 spy David Rupert is under pressure and about to make a possibly fatal mistake.
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