East Coast Kitchens Factory Ltd was fined €5,000 for health and safety breaches after an employee, Pawel Bodnar, lost three fingers on his right hand while cutting chipboard with a faulty Altendorf F45 sliding table saw on 23 July 2015. Bodnar, who was still employed by the company at the time of the hearing, was operating the saw with gloves on when the guard was broken and the blade's protective cover was mis‑positioned. He was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he underwent surgery but could not regain the fingers. The court found that the company had failed to provide a safe system of work, had not addressed the saw's defects, and had not informed management of the fault. East Coast Kitchens was also ordered to pay €4,731.49 in legal costs. The company has since implemented daily checks and a stricter safety policy. The case is also pending in civil court for restitution to Bodnar.
Kevin Braney, a 43‑year‑old Dublin man, was charged by the Special Criminal Court with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and with the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath on 6 March 2013. Braney is also charged with possession of a 9 mm Beretta pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, allegedly intended for a murder on 5 March 2013 at Blackthorn Apartments, Balbriggan. He was brought before the court on 14 September 2017, where he protested the charges as politically motivated and demanded a jury trial. The court, following the Director of Public Prosecutions' request, ordered that he be tried before the Special Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt remanded him in custody for a further hearing on 21 September. No objections were raised to Braney's application for legal aid.
Four men appeared before an out-of-term sitting of the Special Criminal Court on charges arising from the death of Peter Butterly. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Michael McDermott, aged fifty-eight, from Ballinagh, County Cavan, faces a murder charge alongside allegations of membership of an unlawful organisation and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Laurence Murphy, aged sixty, and Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, both from Bettystown, County Meath, are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. Frank Murphy additionally faces murder and firearm possession charges. Ray Kennedy, aged thirty-eight, from Dublin, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. All four were remanded in custody pending their return to the Special Criminal Court on 14 September.
Talavs Riekstins, a 23‑year‑old Latvian chemistry student, pleaded guilty to arson after setting fire to a €34,000 BMW at Harford Motor Company in Balbriggan on 24 November 2016. He had been under the influence of a substance he had purchased and had previously been sent home earlier that day after refusing to leave the dealership. Riekstins returned with a petrol can, poured petrol over the car and used a lighter to ignite it. The court heard that pedestrians were nearby and that Riekstins was concerned about endangering people. Judge Karen O'Connor sentenced him to two and a half years, suspended the final 18 months, and back‑dated the term to the date he entered custody. The judge noted his clean record, employment history and family support as mitigating factors, while citing the uncontrollable nature of the fire and his drug use as aggravating factors. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The bail conditions for former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm, aged 50, have been relaxed by Judge Karen O'Connor. Drumm will now report to Balbriggan Garda station three times a week—Monday, Wednesday and Friday—rather than daily. He must give 24‑hour notice if he wishes to report at a different station. Drumm, who lives in Skerries, faces two charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by misrepresenting deposits in 2008, and an additional charge under the EU transparency directive. He has not yet entered a plea. The trial is scheduled for 10 January 2018.
Stephen O'Shaughnessy, aged 27, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for setting fire to an empty house being refurbished for the charity Prosper Fingal. The fire, which occurred on 14 June 2016, caused smoke, fire and water damage to a building that was two weeks from completion and cost the contractor €170,000 to gut and refit. O'Shaughnessy, who was intoxicated when he set fire to cardboard inside the house, was arrested at 2.50 a.m. after a member of the public identified him. He pleaded guilty to damaging by fire a house at Prosper Fingal, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan. The judge noted that 17 people were due to use the facility and that the charity had to rethink its security strategy following the incident.
Rachel Breen, a 49‑year‑old occupational therapist from Skerries, had her driving licence restored after a 2014 disqualification for dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to a two‑year‑old boy on Naul Road, Balbriggan, in October 2012. Breen pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting she was travelling below the 80 kph limit and had not seen the junction, which was poorly marked and badly surfaced. The court had previously found her a "decent woman" who made a "serious error of judgement" and imposed a four‑year disqualification and a €5,000 damages order. At a brief hearing, the court, with no objection from the prosecution, granted her licence restoration under the Road Traffic Act, noting she had been off the road since December 2014 and needed a licence for her responsible job.
John Devereux, a 52‑year‑old former HSE paramedic and volunteer ambulance driver, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault against a nine‑year‑old girl. He had denied ten alleged assaults in 2012 and 2013; a jury acquitted him of seven counts but found him guilty of three. The court noted his previous roles as an ambulance driver with the Order of Malta and a scout leader, and that he is now a registered sex offender who will lose his job and cannot continue in voluntary organisations. Devereux maintains his innocence and intends to appeal. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to a three‑and‑a‑half‑year term, suspending the last year on the condition of community‑based and in‑house treatment for sex offenders upon release. The sentence reflects the court's view that the offences involved sexual touching and rubbing of the child, and that Devereux had not expressed remorse.
Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath. The Special Criminal Court described the killing as "premeditated slaughter". McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences related to the same incident and received an additional seven‑year sentence for each offence. Kelly's role involved dropping a co‑accused, David Cullen, outside Gormanston College to dispose of the gun and then driving McGrath and the gunman away. The court noted that neither McGrath nor Kelly had prior convictions and highlighted the shock of their involvement in a planned, callous murder. Mrs. Eithne Butterly, the victim's wife, delivered a victim impact statement describing her husband's love for his children and the lasting pain of his death. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt imposed the life sentences on both men.
Jonathan Gill, aged 35, faces charges of kidnapping a Drogheda postal worker, his partner and their ten‑week‑old daughter, followed by a €660,000 robbery. The prosecution argues that, though no direct forensic evidence links Gill to the crime scenes, circumstantial evidence—his association with two other men linked to the offence, a car he owned that was in the area on the day of the kidnapping, and CCTV footage of him buying milk at 5.30 am while the kidnapping was underway—collectively proves his guilt. The jury was told the evidence is circumstantial but compelling, likening the combined threads to a rope. Gill pleaded not guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. His defence counsel highlighted the lack of evidence of his presence between the start of the kidnapping at 10.30 pm and the milk purchase, arguing no guilt by association. The case will be presented to the jury tomorrow for deliberation.
Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), were found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the callous, brutal and pre‑meditated murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston. The court described the killing as an ambush carried out in the carpark, with Butterly shot by a handgun held by Dean Evans (24), who was absent from the trial. McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences from the same incident. The trial, lasting 31 days, relied on forensic evidence from a stolen Toyota Corolla, a green Opel Zafira, and a bag seized from the Corolla, which contained a black semiautomatic pistol. DNA and residue tests linked the men to the shooting. The court remanded McGrath and Kelly in custody pending sentencing. The case did not involve any subsequent verdicts or appeals.
Judges in the Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict on March 9th in the murder trial of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on March 6th, 2013. Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (47) of Balbriggan, are charged with the murder and have pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and has not been located. The court heard evidence from a protected witness, David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder and implicated McGrath and Kelly. The trial also considered surveillance testimony and DNA evidence found on a vehicle near the scene. Both accused remain on continuing bail until the verdict.
In the Special Criminal Court, two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly (35), who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. McGrath also denied firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent. The court accepted evidence from protected witness David Cullen, who implicated McGrath and Kelly. Prosecutor Paul O'Higgins highlighted extensive evidence against McGrath, including DNA on a silver Toyota Corolla and gun residue on his jacket, and evidence against Kelly, such as his arrest in a green Opel Zafira and a bag of clothes with Evans' fingerprints. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha dismissed Cullen's testimony as unreliable, citing contradictions and lack of independent corroboration. The trial's closing speeches concluded before a hearing on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Ann Ryan.
Cornelius Price, 35, of Meath, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for endangering a Garda at Balbriggan Garda Station on 22 January 2014. He drove a Ford van at high speed, forcing Garda Gary Dillane to jump out of the van's path to avoid serious injury. The offence was aggravated by the fact that it was committed against a Garda in the execution of duty. Judge Patricia Ryan noted the impact on the Garda and considered mitigating factors such as Price's educational achievements and voluntary work while in custody. She backdated the sentence to the conviction date of 17 February. Price had previously spent ten and a half months in custody on a separate charge of threatening to damage Garda property, from which he was later acquitted. The court also heard that the incident had caused Garda Dillane to consider resigning, though he ultimately decided to remain in the force. Cornelius Price pleaded not guilty.
Derek Corr, 31, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for orchestrating a passport fraud scheme that involved persuading his GP, Dr Lewis Regan, to sign a false identity certificate. The court found Corr was the main person behind an attempt to obtain a passport for an unknown individual, though the intended recipient remains unidentified. Corr received a five‑year sentence, with four years suspended, to run concurrently with a one‑year term he is already serving for a knife attack on a neighbour. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "at the higher end of the mid range." Corr pleaded guilty to providing false information in a passport application in January 2015. The case also involved a third defendant who was still at large, and Dr Regan had previously been sentenced under the Probation Act for filling out the false form, with no conviction recorded.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who are accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and associated firearms offences. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located; the non-jury court decided to proceed with the trial for McGrath and Kelly in his absence. Forensic scientist Sandra McGrath testified that DNA samples matching the profiles of the two accused were found on a balaclava and a black wig seized from a Toyota Corolla stopped near the scene of the shooting. The court heard that the car was being monitored by the National Surveillance Unit. The witness stated that DNA matching Evans' profile was found on the balaclava, gloves, and clothing recovered from a second vehicle, an Opel Zafira. Conversely, DNA matching McGrath's profile was identified on the black wig. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded for the accused to date.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, forensic evidence was presented that strongly supports the view that Dean Evans, a 24‑year‑old Dublin man, was the gunman who shot Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican, outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Dr John O'Shaughnessy, a forensic scientist, examined a grey knitted sweater seized from Evans and found firearm discharge residue on the cuffs and sleeves, indicating that Evans had fired a weapon. Residue was also found on a jacket taken from co‑accused Edward McGrath, suggesting that the jacket wearer was near the discharge. Evans has not appeared for trial and remains unlocated. The court is proceeding with the trial of co‑accused Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), both of whom pleaded not guilty to the murder and, in McGrath's case, to firearms offences. The hearing was presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Ann Ryan.
In a 2014 incident at Balbriggan Garda Station, Cornelius Price, a 35‑year‑old van driver, was found guilty of endangering a Garda. On the night of 22 January, two vehicles – a Hyundai and a Ford van – were driving at high speed in the station's car park. Garda Gary Dillane, in full uniform, stopped the van and shouted "stop," but Price continued to drive straight at him. Dillane jumped out of the van's path, injuring his leg; he later said he could have been seriously injured or killed. Price was pursued by Dillane and Garda Sean Caffrey but escaped. The van driver was arrested, and Price denied seeing the Garda. He had previously spent 11½ months in custody on a separate charge, which was later acquitted. The case was set for sentencing on 24 February, with the court hearing a victim impact statement from Dillane, who described the event as terrifying and considered resigning from the force. Cornelius Price pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 20 February 2017, a defence barrister argued that the court had been misled regarding the evidence of a protected witness in the Peter Butterly murder case. Butterly, aged 35, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. David Cullen, originally accused, turned State witness over a year later and gave evidence implicating his former co‑accused. Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47) pleaded not guilty to the murder; McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. Dean Evans (24) failed to attend and was not located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. Cullen testified for over four days in a voir‑dire, and his evidence will be reviewed by the judges. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC contended that omissions in police note‑taking deprived the court of essential material, alleging a deliberate policy of not recording conversations.
The Special Criminal Court heard a second day of arguments about whether the evidence of a protected witness, David Cullen, could be admitted in the murder trial of Peter Butterly. Butterly, 35, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Cullen, who had been accused of the murder, turned State's witness after more than a year and has implicated his former co‑accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47). Both men pleaded not guilty to the murder, and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court is considering Cullen's testimony as part of a voir‑dire, and the counsel for Kelly argued that admitting it would amount to the court turning a blind eye to numerous failures to convey the truth. The prosecution countered that Cullen's statements were well‑documented and uncontroversial.
Anthony Handley, 64, of Whitethorn Grove, Artane, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Olivia Dunne, 31, and serious bodily harm to her 15‑week‑old daughter Éabha in Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Gardaí said Handley drifted off momentarily before his off‑road SUV veered from the road and struck the mother and child. He had no alcohol or drugs in his system. On 10 May 2016 Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, citing his good character but warning that fatigue must be a concern for all drivers, and imposed a ten‑year driving ban. The Court of Appeal found errors in the sentencing, upheld the two‑year term but suspended the balance on conditions, and left the driving ban unchanged.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who are accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013, is currently at the procedural stage of a voir dire. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder, with McGrath additionally pleading not guilty to firearms offences on the same occasion. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located by gardai, leading the non-jury court to proceed with the remaining two defendants. The central issue involves the admissibility of evidence from David Cullen, a former co-accused who became a State witness. Defence counsel for Kelly, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC, submitted that Cullen's testimony should be excluded because the court cannot properly assess the process by which he turned witness. Citing a Supreme Court judgment, the barrister argued that omissions in gardai note-taking mean the court lacks essential material to verify if Kelly's right to a fair trial is upheld. He contended that Cullen's access to the book of evidence created particular dangers regarding the integrity of his statements. The legal submissions regarding the exclusion of this protected witness evidence continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan, and Judge Anne Ryan.
In a non‑jury trial for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, the court heard that Garda Joe Doyle, a PSV examiner, inspected a green Opel Zafira on 6 March 2013, six days after the shooting. Doyle reported that the vehicle showed "no faults" at the time of his examination, although the car's Engine Control Unit had recorded three historic faults previously. The car had reportedly "conked out" on the day of the shooting, but Doyle found no faults that would have forced it to stall or prevent it from starting. The trial involves two accused men, Sharif Kelly (47) and Edward McGrath (35), who both pleaded not guilty to the murder and, in McGrath's case, to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court also heard legal arguments regarding the admissibility of forensic samples taken from the accused after their detention.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing a voir dire to determine the admissibility of evidence from David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness in the trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Both men, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and, in McGrath's case, firearms offences, are contesting Cullen's testimony. During cross-examination, Cullen admitted his motivation to provide evidence was to "save" himself. He acknowledged lying in a bail affidavit to deny knowing McGrath and admitted reviewing the book of evidence before making his statement. The court also heard from DPP officer David Gormley, who confirmed the DPP agreed to Cullen's offer to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a statement, with an understanding that his words would not be used against him, though no immunity was granted. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with the judges assessing the reliability of the witness's account.
In the Peter Butterly murder trial, a protected witness, David Cullen (32), testified that he was warned he would be removed from the Witness Protection Programme if he refused to give evidence. Cullen said he had been contacted a few months earlier to return from his host country to testify against two men accused of the murder. When he declined, he was told he would be removed from the programme. He also agreed under cross‑examination to seek a written assurance that he would receive €10,000 for his testimony. Cullen, originally accused of the murder, turned State's witness over a year after the shooting and has implicated his former co‑accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), both of whom pleaded not guilty. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located.
In the Special Criminal Court, David Cullen, an accused who became a State witness, denied that he had lied about the alleged roles of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly in the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Cullen, who was originally charged with the murder, had turned State witness after the shooting and testified that he had waited at Gormanston College's gate to pick up and dispose of the gun, and that Kelly was to pick up McGrath and Dean Evans. During cross‑examination, the counsel for Kelly, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha, accused Cullen of telling lies, to which Cullen replied that he had not been told about Kelly's role and that he had made a deal with the Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the murder charge. The court is hearing Cullen's evidence as part of a voir‑dire to determine its admissibility, while the accused men's counsel objects. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a former accused who became a prosecution witness in the Peter Butterly murder case was informed two days before he gave a statement to the gardai that his murder charge would be dropped. The case involves two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (47), who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly, who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court also heard cross‑examination of David Cullen, who had previously offered statements on several IRA‑related cases, including Butterly's shooting. Cullen claimed he was told the murder charge would be dropped before he gave his statement, a claim that his counsel, Giollaíosa Ó'Lideadha SC, used to question the admissibility of Cullen's evidence.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from David Cullen, a former accused who turned State's witness, regarding the alleged murder of Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, in 2013. Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, both accused of the alleged murder and firearms offences, have pleaded not guilty. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located, while the court proceeded with the trial for McGrath and Kelly. Cullen, who previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, described being asked to pick up a gun and dispose of it at Gormanston College. He testified that he witnessed a gun thrown from a vehicle and was arrested while retrieving it. This testimony is part of a voir dire, or trial within a trial, to determine the admissibility of Cullen's evidence, to which defence counsel for Kelly objects. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. The matter is currently at the trial stage before a non-jury court presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In the Special Criminal Court, evidence was presented that the six discharged cartridges found at the scene of Peter Butterly's shooting matched a Beretta semi‑automatic pistol located almost a kilometre away. Butterly, aged 35, was killed outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Two Dublin men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), are charged with his murder and have pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court heard from Detective Garda David O'Leary, who examined the scene, and from Detective Sergeant Ciaran Murphy, who provided testimony about a meeting concerning a potential plea by State witness David Cullen. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues after a previous trial collapsed. The accused's barristers challenge the admissibility of Cullen's evidence and the alleged deal to drop the murder charge.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the court decided to proceed with the trial of Peter Butterly's alleged murderers, Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, after a third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear. Both McGrath and Kelly pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. The court heard from Adriana Skorus, who lived opposite the Huntsman Inn where Butterly was shot. She described hearing two gunshots, seeing a man with a small black handgun in the carpark, and observing a vehicle leave the premises. Skorus also noted a second car entering the carpark minutes later. The defence had previously applied to exclude evidence of the accused men's arrests, arguing the detentions were unlawful, but the court rejected that application. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues after the earlier trial collapsed in January 2015. The hearing took place on 3 February 2017.
Anthony Kearney, 65, a former bric a brac shop owner and memorabilia collector, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen Baikal double‑barrel shotgun. He bought the weapon for €440 at a Sunday market in Balbriggan, believing it to be a harmless piece for his collection. Gardaí stopped him in his van, found the broken firearm, and later searched his home, which contained no other criminal items. The court, noting Kearney's lack of prior convictions and the circumstances, deemed the offence a "serious error of judgement." Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered restitution of the firearm. The mandatory five‑year minimum was set aside due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case.
In a 2017 court hearing, detectives investigating the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly denied that any offer was made to drop a murder charge against an accused who later became a prosecution witness. The case involves Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and a missing third accused, Dean Evans. McGrath and Kelly have pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. The Special Criminal Court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly after Evans' absence. Lawyers challenge the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder. Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire testified that he received a call from Cullen's solicitor on 6 June 2014, who sought immunity, witness protection, and financial assistance for Cullen. No commitment was made, and the detectives reported the matter to authorities. Subsequent meetings with Cullen's solicitor and the DPP were held, but no formal deal was confirmed. The judge requested details of any decision to drop the charge.
In the Peter Butterly murder trial at the Special Criminal Court, the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen was contested. The trial, now in its second session after the original collapsed, heard cross‑examination of former chief superintendent John Gilligan, who oversaw the Witness Protection Program. Gilligan was questioned about a June 2014 meeting with Detective Superintendent Alf Martin and other Gardaí, during which it was alleged that Cullen might plead guilty to a lesser charge and that the murder charge could be dropped. Gilligan denied any deliberate omission of that possibility, stating he only noted Cullen's desire to provide information. The court considered whether the notes from that meeting, previously privileged, could be used to assess Cullen's evidence. The case continues under Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly still pleading not guilty to the murder and firearms offences. Dean Evans, the third accused, remains missing and was not present at the hearing.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Peter Butterly and firearms offences, continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. A third accused, Dean Evans, failed to appear and has not been located, prompting the non-jury court to proceed with the two co-accused. The proceedings currently focus on a voir dire, or trial within a trial, to determine the admissibility of evidence from state witness David Cullen, who was originally accused of the murder. Defence counsel for Mr Kelly challenged Detective Superintendent Alf Martin, the senior investigating officer, suggesting he deliberately withheld information regarding how Cullen became a prosecution witness. The detective denied deliberately concealing facts, stating there was no deal to drop charges, though he acknowledged a phone call where a solicitor's notes referenced a dropped murder charge. Former Witness Protection Program chief superintendent John Gilligan testified that he was informed of Cullen's potential application in June 2014 and arranged his transfer for safety. The court is assessing these testimonies to decide whether Cullen's evidence should be admitted. The trial remains ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence issued.
In a dissident republican murder trial, defence counsel for Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and the absent Dean Evans challenged the admissibility of evidence from State witness David Cullen, who had originally been an accused. Cullen, a 35‑year‑old former suspect, agreed to testify for the prosecution in exchange for immunity from the murder charge and a lesser offence. He provided information on the car, gun, and planning of the shooting, and also on another high‑profile murder. Cullen was in Portlaoise Prison when the deal was struck, later moved to Midlands Prison, and gave a statement on 27 June 2014. He was sentenced on 2 July 2014 to seven years' imprisonment for possession of a firearm, with three and a half years suspended. Defence argued that procedural failures made Cullen's testimony unreliable, and the court will decide on its admissibility. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 27 January 2017, the legality of the detention of two men accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly was contested. The 35‑year‑old victim was shot outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (46) of Balbriggan pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, Dublin, failed to appear and has not been located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. Defence counsel argued the men were unlawfully detained by the National Surveillance Unit, citing an unacceptable delay and questioning the invocation of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Prosecution counsel countered that Garda evidence and CCTV showed the men understood the reasons for their arrest and that Section 30 was properly invoked.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the barristers for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly argued that the two men, accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn in 2013, were unlawfully detained on the side of the road. The men were allegedly held by National Surveillance Unit officers before being formally arrested. Mr Kelly's barrister, Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha, claimed an unacceptable delay and that the officers failed to take contemporaneous notes, questioning whether Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked. He argued the prosecution had not proved the delay was justified and that Mr Kelly should have been arrested within minutes of Garda arrival. Paul Greene, representing Mr McGrath, agreed, citing a policy that led to unconstitutional roadside detention. The case is the second trial for both men, following a collapsed first trial in 2015. The court is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 January 2017, evidence was presented regarding the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old who was shot dead in the carpark of The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston. Two men, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), were on trial for his murder and had pleaded not guilty. McGrath also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and was not located. The court proceeded with the two co‑accused in Evans's absence. Detective Sergeant Daniel O'Driscoll of the Special Detective Unit testified that he had been part of a surveillance operation that day. He discovered a silver Toyota Corolla involved in the shooting, stopped it and another car on Flemington Lane, and found a white plastic bag containing a black semiautomatic pistol, which he left in situ.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing the second trial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and, in McGrath's case, firearms offences on the same occasion. The court is proceeding with the two accused in the absence of co-accused Dean Evans, who failed to appear and remains unlocated. Evidence presented during a voir dire, or trial within a trial, includes testimony from Garda Damien Broughall regarding the arrest of Evans and McGrath on Flemington Road following the shooting at The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Broughall described stopping a silver Toyota Corolla, where surveillance officers had detained the occupants. He alleged that Evans was involved in the shooting and was arrested for IRA membership and firearm possession, while McGrath was dealt with by a colleague. Items found in the vehicle included a petrol can, gloves, a wig, and glasses. This evidence will assist the judges in deciding a legal issue. The original trial collapsed after 55 days in January 2015, leading to this retrial. The proceedings continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, a Garda National Surveillance Unit officer recited the Act of Contrition to Peter Butterly, who was found with massive gunshot injuries to his head in a Meath carpark on 6 March 2013. Butterly, a dissident republican, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown. The trial excluded the public while the officer and colleagues gave anonymous evidence. The accused, Edward McGrath (35) of Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (46) of Balbriggan, pleaded not guilty to Butterly's murder and to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24) of Raheny, failed to appear and was not located. The court heard that the gunman's car was monitored by the National Surveillance Unit; an officer, identified only as Member B, described spotting a suspicious black Laguna in the carpark, finding Butterly lying on the ground, and holding his hand while reciting an act of contrition.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, the public was excluded while three Garda National Surveillance Unit members gave anonymous evidence. The case concerns the 2013 shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co. Meath. The accused, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), plead not guilty to the murder and McGrath also pleads not guilty to firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and remains missing. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. The trial is a retrial after the original collapsed in 2015. Evidence from the surveillance unit involved tracking a silver Toyota Corolla and a green Opel Zafira, with witnesses identifying Kelly and describing the pursuit and arrest. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that Peter Butterly, 35, died of multiple gunshot wounds in a Meath car park on 6 March 2013. The post‑mortem report, read by Caroline Cummings BL, described entry wounds to his neck and trunk and exit wounds to his neck and head, a sternal fracture, cardiac tamponade and traumatic brain injuries. Two witnesses, Sean Brennan and Francesco Macari, described seeing a silver vehicle, a chase, a gunshot and a bang from the Huntsman Inn area. The trial concerns two Dubliners, Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46), who pleaded not guilty to murder and firearms offences. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and has not been located. The court proceeded with McGrath and Kelly in Evans's absence. The case is the second trial for the pair after the original collapsed in 2015. The hearing is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Anne Ryan.
In a 2017 hearing, the Special Criminal Court heard the second trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013 at The Huntsman Inn car park, Gormanstown, Co. Meath. Both pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences at the same address. The trial proceeded after the third accused, Dean Evans (24), failed to appear and was not located by the gardai. The court considered prosecution claims of privilege over information relating to a protected witness. A secondary school student, Sean Brennan, testified that he saw a man raise his arm and shoot another man while waiting for a bus opposite the Inn, and that he later called 999. The hearing continued under Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that evidence from eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members in the retrial of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly must be given anonymously with the public excluded. McGrath (35) and Kelly (46) have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly, a 35-year-old father of three, who was shot dead in Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. McGrath also denied unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition. The court is proceeding with the trial in the absence of third accused Dean Evans, who has not been located. This is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly, following the collapse of the original proceedings in January 2015. Prosecuting counsel stated that protected witness David Cullen would testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the deed was done. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court accepted that surveillance of alleged paramilitaries is a dangerous aspect of policing, justifying the exclusion of the public and the use of initials for witness identities. The trial is continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan.
Anthony Handley, 64, of Whitethorn Grove, Artane, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving that caused the death of Olivia Dunne, 31, and serious bodily harm to her 15‑week‑old daughter Éabha Dunne in Balbriggan on 17 January 2014. Gardaí say Handley drifted off the road briefly before his off‑road SUV veered and struck the victims. He had no alcohol or drugs in his system. On 10 May 2016 Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, citing Handley's good character and blameless record but stressing the need for drivers to remain alert to fatigue. The judge also banned Handley from driving for ten years. Handley has now filed an appeal against the sentence, arguing that the judge over‑emphasised the Road Safety Authority's fatigue campaign and that the evidence of fatigue was limited to Handley's own brief feeling of tiredness fifteen minutes before the incident.
The Special Criminal Court will decide tomorrow whether eleven Garda National Surveillance Unit members can give evidence anonymously and whether the public must be excluded from the re‑trial of Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46) for the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. The court has been told that the gun used was monitored by the unit and that a protected witness will testify against the two men. McGrath denies unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol and ammunition and denies intent to endanger life. A third accused, Dean Evans (24), was absent and not located, so the trial will proceed without him. The case is the second trial for McGrath and Kelly after the original collapsed in 2015. Prosecuting counsel said David Cullen, a protected witness, will testify that Kelly instructed him to collect and hide the gun, and that Cullen was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with three and a half years suspended for firearms charges. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard that the car used by the gunman in the murder of Peter Butterly was under Garda surveillance. Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 35-year-old father of three, are currently on trial. The prosecution alleged that McGrath drove a silver Toyota Corolla into the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013, where Butterly was shot dead. A third accused, Dean Evans, who allegedly fired the shots, failed to appear and has not been located; the court proceeded with the trial in his absence. Prosecution counsel stated that a protected witness, David Cullen, would testify that Kelly directed him to dispose of the weapon and that Kelly's role was to pick up McGrath and Evans after the incident. Cullen was previously sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to firearms charges in July 2014. The court was told that surveillance units intercepted the vehicle, leading to the arrest of McGrath and Evans, while Kelly was arrested upon arrival in another car. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, three men—Dean Evans (26), Edward McGrath (35) and Sharif Kelly (46)—were scheduled to stand trial for the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. McGrath and Kelly appeared in court and were remanded on continuing bail until Friday. Evans, however, failed to attend the hearing. The court noted that Evans had not been seen since Sunday and that his family were "concerned" about his whereabouts. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges John O'Hagan and Anne Ryan, issued a warrant for Evans's arrest and remanded Kelly and McGrath on continuing bail until the following day. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcomes reported in the article.
David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank, was granted a one‑day relaxation of his bail conditions by Judge Melanie Greally. The court heard that Drumm, aged 49 and residing in Skerries, Co. Dublin, is charged with 33 counts under two separate bills relating to alleged offences at the now‑defunct bank. He has not yet entered a plea. Two trials are scheduled: the first on 24 April next year, where he faces charges of conspiring to defraud depositors and investors by creating a false impression that 2008 deposits were €7.2 billion larger, and a charge under the EU transparency directive; the second in January 2018, where he faces 16 counts of offering unlawful financial assistance to members of businessman Sean Quinn's family and 10 other individuals, plus 14 charges of falsifying documents. The April trial is expected to last about three months, while the January trial is expected to last about two months.
Edward Wall (44) and Patrick Wall (36) were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for burglary at a house in Drogheda and an attempted burglary in Gainstown on 31 October 2014. Patrick had four prior burglary convictions, including one aggravated burglary, with two suspended sentences, one six‑month term and a community service order. Edward had eight prior burglary convictions, receiving various sentences from suspensions to a three‑year term. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a review on the grounds of "unduly lenient" sentences, but the Court of Appeal found no clear divergence from the norm. The judge noted the Walls' prior convictions, the planning and sophistication of the burglary, and the fact that they were on bail for other matters at the time of sentencing. The review was rejected. Edward Wall pleaded guilty. Patrick Wall pleaded guilty.