The FBI and Garda infiltrated dissident republican groups through their fundraising arms in the US, it has emerged.
The FBI infiltrated the anti-Belfast Agreement republican fundraising groups in the US. The groups are associated with the political wings of the two terrorist groups, the "Real IRA',' which carried out the Omagh bombing in August 1998, and the Continuity IRA.
Yesterday, one of the US fundraising groups, Cumann na Saoirse - the Irish Freedom Committee - issued a notice on its website saying it had expelled one of its members in October 1999.
The name David Ruppert was mentioned. The message said he had been expelled for "continued efforts and actions designed to thwart and prevent the organisation from fulfilling its financial obligations".
At the weekend it was reported that Ruppert has gone into hiding and is receiving protection from the FBI.
The joint investigation has involved over 18 months of undercover work in this State. Almost the entire resources of the Garda National Surveillance Unit (GNSU) have been devoted to the investigation under the direction of a chief superintendent at the crime and security section at Garda Headquarters.
The investigation has been separate from the Omagh investigation which has failed to lead to substantive charges. According to sources close to the Omagh investigation, the identities of all the figures are known but it is not felt likely that there will be charges relating to the 29 deaths.
However, senior Garda sources are hopeful that the parallel investigation which has led to the infiltration of the "Real IRA" will stop its growth. Gardai are watching the group closely to see how it reacts to the recent moves against it.
The operation to infiltrate it was so secretive that the Dublin-based officers involved avoided contact with local gardai in the Louth/Meath division where the leadership of the "Real IRA" is based.
Yesterday, the Sunday Times reported that the operation to infiltrate the "Real IRA" involved an American man who had been central to the fundraising activities of the 32County Sovereignty Committee, the political group associated with the "Real IRA".
According to the newspaper, information supplied by the man, who once owned a bar in Co Leitrim, led to meetings of the "Real IRA" leadership.
According to Garda sources, leadership meetings were under surveillance. Telephone calls and conversations involving the group have been recorded and these tapes may be used in future court proceedings.
It is also possible that the American might be called to give evidence in court. Taped conversations have not been used in any major court cases here but records of mobile phone calls were used in evidence in the three Veronica Guerin murder cases. Also during this case three former gang members agreed to give evidence in court.
The FBI has also gathered a large amount of information and is reported to have been working closely with the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI5. The Garda crime and security section also works with MI5 and has regular meetings at senior level.
The Sunday Times yesterday reported that the American who infiltrated the "Real IRA" has been working for the FBI and is now included in its witness protection scheme. It was reported that he joined the "Real IRA's" fundraising wing in the US in 1999 and became a trusted figure after making a personal donation of US $10,000.
The man became closely associated with the fundraising arm in the US, which was allowed to continue in operation to facilitate the FBI/MI5/Garda investigation.