Published Tuesday, 09 June 2009
McKevitt's lawyer said he would fight to expose the "flawed allegations" against him after he and three other men were held liable for the Real IRA attack following a landmark civil action brought by the families of some of the 29 people killed in 1998.
Mr Justice Morgan awarded combined damages of more than £1.6m to 12 relatives who sued over the attack.
The judge found that McKevitt - currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for directing terrorism - was at the top end of the organisation which carried out the bombing.
Mr Justice Morgan said his failure to give evidence in response to the allegations against him was inexplicable, with the case against him described as overwhelming.
The claim against McKevitt depended heavily on hearsay evidence from David Rupert, an American trucking boss-turned FBI spy who infiltrated dissident republican ranks.
Rupert was a star prosecution witness when the paramilitary leader was convicted in Dublin in 2003, but did not attend the hearing in Belfast amid fears for his safety.
Following the verdict McKevitt's solicitor Kevin Winters focused on the spy as he confirmed plans to challenge Mr Justice Morgan's verdict.
Mr Winters said: "We had major concerns about the reliability of the evidence of David Rupert before this civil action began.
"Our concerns remained at the conclusion of the case and indeed again following the court's ruling."
"Our client disputes entirely the findings made against him and he has instructed us to appeal the judgment."
The lawyer added: "He has contested rigorously all the proceedings brought against him to date in Dublin and Belfast.
"He will continue his battle to expose the flawed allegations made against him through the appeal court."