The Real IRA has since been blamed for a number of bombings in London, including attacks on the BBC’s headquarters, the MI6 building and Hammersmith Bridge. It is reported that McKevitt became close to Rupert three years ago and introduced him to other key figures in the Real IRA. The 6ft 4in, 20–stone American, whose own past is shrouded in mystery, is thought to have become involved in the Irish republican movement in 1997 and has since made several trans–Atlantic visits. He was then recruited by the MI5 and FBI to spy on the activities of the Real IRA’s political wing, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.

According to reports he raised money which flowed through a bank account in the Irish Republic border town of Dundalk where McKevitt lived with his wife Bernadette Sands, sister of IRA hunger strike martyr Bobby Sands. But at the same time it is claimed he was passing on vital information to his security force handlers. It is now claimed Rupert and his family are living under guard in the United States under a witness protection programme which will provide his family with new identities. Marion Price, chairperson of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association and member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, said she was mystified by the reports “This is the first I have heard of it,” she said. “I do know that we have various people raising funds for us in America, but that name doesn’t ring a bell. That’s not to say he hasn’t been in touch.” Although a Garda spokesman was equally in the dark over Rupert, he added: “That case (McKevitt’s) is before the court so I would imagine it would emerge at some stage.”. Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has urged livestock farmers not to undermine the Government’s strategy against foot and mouth by appealing against the culling of their animals.

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has urged livestock farmers not to undermine the Government’s strategy against foot and mouth by appealing against the culling of their animals. Mr Brown has written to all 85,000 livestock farmers in England to urge them to only appeal against culling in “very exceptional circumstances.” Officials at Mr Brown’s Ministry of Agriculture are concerned that farmers who are told that their animals have to be culled because their flocks or herds neighbour infected stock, have been exercising their right to appeal as a matter of routine. That is hampering the Government’s efforts to hit the target of slaughtering animals on neighbouring farms within 48 hours of the report of a new case – considered vital to controlling and then eradicating the disease. In his letter Mr Brown – who has embarked on a fresh round of television interviews to set out the Government’s strategy against the disease – cautioned that although there are signs that the culling policy is starting to “bite”, there is no room for complacency. Mr Brown argued that although figures from the last 10 days showed that the exponential growth in the number of cases originally feared by scientists had not materialised, the virulent nature of the disease meant it was far too early for the authorities to drop their guard. Scientific opinion was united in saying that the success of the culling policy was dependent on hitting the twin targets of 24 hours between report and slaughter on infected farms, and 48 hours to slaughter on neighbouring land.