Irish Independent July 26, 2003 Trial goes on as McKevitt refuses to leave his cell  Diarmaid Mac Dermott and Liz Walsh  THE trial of Michael McKevitt for directing terrorism continued in his absence yesterday after he refused to leave his cell in Green Street courthouse.  Chief Supt Michael Finnegan told the Special Criminal Court he believed McKevitt was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann , otherwise the IRA between August 1999 and March 2001.  He had known McKevitt since 1985 and his opinion was not based on the evidence of FBI agent David Rupert or any statement made by Mr Rupert.  McKevitt sacked his legal team on Thursday and the court ordered that the trial should continue and refused his request to absent himself.  But yesterday, when the trial resumed, a prison officer gave evidence that McKevitt was refusing to come up from the cells into the courtroom.  Prison Officer Laurence Hogan told the court: "He has just informed me as the officer in charge of the escort that he is refusing to come up voluntarily to court."  Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, told the officer to go back to McKevitt and inform him that the court had directed that he come to court.  The prison officer went down to the cells area and a few minutes later re-emerged into the dock.  Mr Justice Johnson told him: "Under no circumstances use any force if he doesn't wish to come up."  Prosecuting counsel George Birmingham SC told the court that McKevitt appeared to be exercising his option to remain where he was.  Arrangements would be made to provide him with a copy of the daily transcript of the trial and he had already been provided with a copy of Thursday's proceedings at Portlaoise prison. Mr Justice Johnson said the court was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that McKevitt had "intelligently, voluntarily and unequivocally decided to refuse to come into the court despite all diligent efforts."  The judge said that McKevitt should not be compelled either by force or by the threat of force to come before the court.  His absence should not be taken as any admission of guilt and did not add to the prosecution case.  The judge said that the trial should continue.  It was the 25th day of the trial of McKevitt (53), 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 hEireann between August 29, 1999 and March 28, 2001.  He also denies directing the activities of the same organisation.  Det-Sgt Bill Hanrahan, Special Detective Unit, said he was part of a team that searched Mc Kevitt's home in March, 2001.  He saw four photographs in a box which appeared to be of meetings of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee and separately he found three photographs which showed a matchbox with wires attached. It showed "wiring and some sort of mechanism".  Sgt Anthony Hearty said when interviewed McKevitt after his arrest in March, 2001 he repeatedly denied being a member of an unlawful organisation.  When asked if he had known or met David Rupert, McKevitt replied: "I can't recall."  Det-Gda Rory Corcoran said in a search at McKevitt's home in the kitchen area in a cabinet he found a small plastic bottle which seemed to contain a mercury-like substance.  He asked McKevitt about the bottle and McKevitt replied: "I have never seen that bottle before."  He then asked McKevitt's wife, Bernadette, about the bottle and she replied: "Don't you try to put my prints on that bottle. Is that the way you are trying to handle it now? Look Mickey, they are trying to get me to handle that bottle."  The trial continues on Monday.