On 31 October 2014, the Special Criminal Court heard further evidence in the trial of three men charged with the murder of Peter Butterly. Officers from the National Surveillance Unit had been giving evidence, but members of the public were excluded to protect the officers' identities and the unit's methodology. Garda D was escorted through the courtroom custody area because lawyers for the State said he could not walk "out into the public as normal." Public members were again allowed to enter the non‑jury court to hear continuing evidence from the Emergency Response Unit, though that evidence may not yet be admissible. The trial focuses on the legality of the arrests. The accused—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013.
A 22‑year‑old Dublin soldier, Naoise O'Conarain, was acquitted by a jury of assault charges against two Gardaí, Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy, following an incident at his home on 10 March 2013. The trial, held in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted 11 days and the jury found him not guilty after 1 hour 47 minutes of deliberation. Judge Patrick McCartan had earlier directed the jury to acquit him of assaulting three additional Gardaí due to lack of evidence. O'Conarain had no prior convictions. The Gardaí testified that he struck them in the bathroom after a domestic disturbance call. O'Conarain's mother, Olga Howlett, claimed the Gardaí used "uncalled for" language and beat her son, while a family friend, Keith Henry, said the officers could have handled the situation better. The court heard that the Gardaí had used pepper spray and a disposable razor during the altercation. No further charges were pursued.
In the Special Criminal Court, the legality of the arrest of three men charged with the murder of Peter Butterly was a key issue. The defendants—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—had pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences at the same scene. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), had turned State's witness. The court heard that Butterly, aged 35, was lured to the car park of the Huntsman Inn on 6 March 2013, where a Toyota Corolla entered and shots were fired at his vehicle and as he fled. Prosecutor Úna Ní Raifeartaigh SC reported Butterly was found collapsed and pronounced dead. The case, involving a tracking device on the Corolla, will continue tomorrow before the panel of judges. The public was allowed to re‑enter the courtroom after a surveillance garda was escorted through the custody area. The evidence of the Emergency Response Unit remains potentially inadmissible.
In the closing stages of a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 22‑year‑old soldier, Naoise O'Conarain, pleaded not guilty to assaulting two gardai, Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy, at his Tallaght home on 10 March 2013. The jury, composed of four women and eight men, is set to retire tomorrow after Judge Patrick McCartan's charge. Earlier in the week, the judge directed the jury to find O'Conarain not guilty of assaulting three additional gardai due to lack of evidence. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC noted the accused had no prior convictions. Gardai Quinn and Molloy testified that O'Conarain attacked them in the bathroom following a domestic disturbance call; Quinn received up to 30 stitches to his lip after a second struggle, during which O'Conarain allegedly cut him with a disposable razor, while Molloy was punched in the face.
The trial of Dean Evans, Edward McGrath, and Sharif Kelly for the murder of Peter Butterly and associated firearm offences continued in the Special Criminal Court. All three defendants, who are alleged to have shot Butterly dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013, have pleaded not guilty. Evans and McGrath also face firearm charges for the same incident. The court heard evidence from National Surveillance Unit gardaí, who exited the courtroom via the custody area to protect their identities and operational methodology. Defence counsel Gaillíosa O'Lideadha SC argued that the storage of these witnesses in a shared room before testimony compromised the integrity of the process, a claim the prosecution rejected as a logistical necessity. The court has also heard that a fourth man, David Cullen, allegedly part of the murder plan, turned State's witness. Evidence indicated Butterly was lured to the scene, where shots were fired at his vehicle and as he attempted to flee. The prosecution noted this is the first case in the State's history involving a tracking device on a vehicle. The matter was adjourned and continues before a three-judge panel.
During a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a family friend of the accused, Naoise O'Conarain, testified that the Gardaí could have handled the situation better. He was present in the bathroom where an earlier altercation between O'Conarain and his brother had been diffused when two Gardaí entered unannounced. He told the judge that the officers should have learned of the situation before confronting O'Conarain. He also said he did not see O'Conarain punch a Garda, though he witnessed a struggle in which a Garda was struck on the head with a torch butt. He denied hearing any mention of a razor in the video footage. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of four women and eight men. The accused has pleaded not guilty to assaulting two Gardaí. The jury was directed to find him not guilty of assaulting three other Gardaí due to insufficient evidence. The case remains ongoing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 29 October 2014, two surveillance gardaí—identified only as Garda C and Garda F—gave evidence in the murder trial of three men charged with the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The court ordered that neither the identities nor the evidence of eleven gardaí from the National Surveillance Unit be published, citing concerns that disclosure could compromise future surveillance operations and the unit's methodology. The trial involves Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33), and Sharif Kelly (44), all of whom pleaded not guilty to Butterly's murder, a 35‑year‑old who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. The court also heard that a Toyota Corolla entered the car park shortly before the shooting and that a tracking device was sought for the vehicle. The case was set to continue before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and Judge Cormac Dunne.
Gráinne O'Toole, 41, an autistic woman diagnosed with obsessive persecution delusions, was remanded in custody in July after repeatedly harassing Jennifer Doran, the wife of a former colleague, with over 310 abusive texts, calls and tweets between October 2011 and February 2012. At the original sentencing hearing, O'Toole pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patrick McCartan adjourned her sentence for one year, allowing her to continue treatment and college studies in the community. He warned that re‑offending within 12 months would result in imprisonment. The judge set the case to be concluded in October 2015, with the possibility of re‑entry if O'Toole re‑offended. O'Toole's behaviour was described as a campaign of harassment that impacted Doran's private, business and personal life. The judge noted her improvement in appearance and demeanour during a recent prison visit, and that she was now medically compliant with treatment. The case remains pending until the adjourned date.
The High Court has reserved judgement on Bank of Scotland's application to examine the trustees of Victory Christian Fellowship over their assets. BOS and its receivers seek examination because the trustees allegedly failed to provide a statement of affairs and proposals to discharge the €18.7 million debt owed to the bank. The trustees, Brendan Hade, Sheila Hade and Gerry Byrne, oppose the claims, asserting that all church activities ceased after receivers took possession of the three premises in June 2013. BOS argues that activities have continued, citing meetings and services held at Dublin hotels and social‑media posts described as "phoenix‑like." The court has ordered that the trustees be orally examined regarding the debt and assets, and that they provide a statement of current and anticipated income and expenditure, as well as disclose the identities of third parties funding their litigation. The trustees are prepared to be examined on church assets but not on personal assets.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 28 October 2014, four surveillance gardaí gave evidence in the murder trial of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. The defendants – Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44) – pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences committed at the same address and date. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), had earlier turned State witness. The court excluded the public to protect the methodology of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) officers, who were identified only as Garda A, Garda E, Garda H and Garda W. The judges ordered that the officers' names be withheld from publication and that none of their evidence be published. The trial continued the next day with the same panel of judges. The case remains in the non‑jury court.
Aisha Ahmed, 49, was arrested at her Dublin home on suspicion of being a fugitive drug importer in Italy, where she is wanted to serve a 20‑year sentence imposed in her absence. She was brought before the High Court on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities, who have been looking for the Nigerian native for several years. Ahmed was identified by the Garda Extradition Unit as Gloria Aro, with a date of birth in December 1967, and she denied being known as Aisha Ahmed or by the alias Linda. She also denied having ever been to Italy. Detective Sergeant Jim Kirwan presented a photograph of Ahmed from Interpol in Rome and said the woman's fingerprints matched those sent by Interpol. The court heard that the fingerprints were from the same person.
In a trial before the Special Criminal Court, three men—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—were charged with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and to firearm offences at the same address. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), had earlier turned State witness against his co‑accused. 18‑year‑old Sean Brennan, a sixth‑year secondary school student, testified that he was waiting for a bus opposite the Inn when he heard a noise, saw a man with a gun, and heard two to three shots. He described the gun as in the man's right hand and the shots as sharp and quick.
Charges were dropped against arcade night manager Calin Cucura, 31, who had been tried for allegedly taking care assistant Sean Cummins, father of nine, into a car, transporting him to an unknown location and threatening to cut off his fingers until his family paid money. The prosecution admitted insufficient evidence to proceed. Cucura pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and a threat to kill. The Director of Public Prosecutions instructed a nolle prosequi on both counts, and Judge Patricia Ryan announced the trial would not continue.
The High Court judge confirmed that the arrest of Yemi Moshood Olatunde, a 47‑year‑old Nigerian resident of Sundale Parade, Tallaght, was valid under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities. Olatunde had been sentenced in Italy to 20 years' imprisonment for drug trafficking offences, including possession and sale of large quantities of cocaine, and was identified as a leader of the criminal organisation. Judge John Edwards stated that the person arrested matched the name in the warrant and that the court would consider any points of objection filed by counsel before the next hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Arcade manager Calin Cucura, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment and a threat to kill Sean Cummins on 12 January 2010. Cummins, a full‑time care assistant, was allegedly taken from a family newsagent in Coolock by four men, including Cucura, and held in a container where they demanded money from his family. Cummins later claimed the captors released him after his family complied with the gang's cash demand. Dean Cummins, the victim's son, testified that his father was abducted because he was the first to approach the gang when they entered the shop, and that his father had intended to protect other family members. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan with a jury of four women and eight men, will resume tomorrow for further evidence.
Three judges of the Special Criminal Court admitted that a technical glitch of their own making has delayed the delivery of a ruling in the murder trial of Peter Butterly. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and Judge Cormac Dunne, will hear from its first witness tomorrow. The case involves three men—Edward McGrath (33), Dean Evans (24) and Sharif Kelly (44)—who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn on 6 March 2013. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), turned State witness. The court has ordered that members of the public be excluded while eleven National Surveillance Unit officers give evidence, and that none of the officers' evidence be published to protect their methodology.
Naoise O'Conarain (22), a soldier stationed at Cathal Brugha Barracks, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for alleged assaults on gardaí. He pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting gardaí Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy, causing them harm at his home on March 10, 2013. He also denies assaulting gardaí Ross Foy, Kevin Keane, and Simon Butler on the same date. On day six of the trial, Detective Garda Kenny Ryan testified regarding the arrest of the accused at his barracks. Defence counsel Micheál O'Higgins SC questioned whether the arrest at the workplace was intended to cause "maximum embarrassment" to the accused. Det Gda Ryan denied this, stating it was "not at all" the case. He explained that he had first attempted to arrest O'Conarain at his residence but found him absent. After the accused's parents refused to pass on a message to present himself at Tallaght Garda Station, Det Gda Ryan inferred non-cooperation and proceeded to the barracks. The accused was arrested in the presence of army personnel, allowed to change out of his uniform, and then taken to the station. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, 31‑year‑old Calin Cucura of Derrynane Square, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment and making a threat to kill. He is accused of being one of four men who abducted care assistant and father of nine, Sean Cummins, on 12 January 2010. Cummins testified that the men, dressed in black, forced him into a jeep, drove him to an unknown location, and threatened to cut off his fingers daily until his family paid money. Cummins was later released at a housing estate after the captors claimed his family had complied. The trial, presided over by Judge Patricia Ryan, continues before a jury of four women and eight men. The case focuses on the alleged abduction and threat, with no further convictions or sentencing reported in the article.
The Special Criminal Court will hear the first witness in the trial of three Dublin men charged with the murder of Peter Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. The accused – Edward McGrath (33), Dean Evans (24) and Sharif Kelly (44) – have pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences at the same address. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), who was part of the murder plan, turned State witness earlier this year. The court has heard that Butterly was lured to the car park by an unknown man, a Toyota Corolla entered the premises, and shots were fired at Butterly's vehicle and when he tried to flee. Gardaí used a tracking device on the vehicle, a first in State history. The court also dealt with pre‑trial applications, the transformation of Cullen into a prosecution witness, and the protection of surveillance evidence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former bar and nightclub owners James Lambert (46) and David McKee (42) pleaded guilty to failing to manage and conduct work activities to ensure the safety, health and welfare of employees, resulting in the death of 31‑year‑old Stephen Hampson, who was crushed to death in a lift shaft at The Blu Bar. Lambert admitted to using the goods‑only lift despite prohibitive signs and to having threatened staff who used it. McKee, who had resigned as director in 2008, was found to have been present in the lift with Hampson an hour before the fatality and had previously been seen by staff as an authority figure. The judge, Mary Ellen Ring, ordered each man to carry out 200 hours of community service in lieu of a six‑month custodial sentence, warning that any further appearance before her would result in full prison time.
The Special Criminal Court heard the trial of three Dublin men—Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22), and Sharif Kelly (43)—charged with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013. Butterly was lured to the Huntsman Inn car park, where a Toyota Corolla entered and shots were fired at his vehicle and again when he tried to flee. The men pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences. The court also considered the use of a tracking device on the Corolla, the first time such a device has been mentioned in a State case. A senior Garda explained the device's deployment was protected to safeguard investigative methods from potential misuse by the IRA or other hostile groups. The court will rule on the disclosure of redacted surveillance material tomorrow. The hearing is set to continue with Judges Margaret Heneghan and Cormac Dunne presiding under Justice Deirdre Murphy.
Swords District Court heard several matters before Judge Dermot Dempsey. Brian Clarke, 28, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to Swords Educate Together School. He was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. The court ordered him to reside at his sister's address, notify gardai of any change, and pay €200 compensation by February. Dean Whelan, 27, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop. The case was adjourned until December 15th for a Probation report and urine analysis; the judge warned of custody if the report is unsatisfactory. Tracey Brookes and Karen Dooley, accused of theft from three stores, elected trial by jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. They were remanded on continuing bail to re-appear on December 2nd for service of the Book of Evidence. Adam Meehan, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine and methoxyphenamine tablets. The case was struck out after he complied with an order to pay €400 to charity and complete 240 hours of voluntary work, avoiding a conviction. David Lawrence, 19, charged with intoxication and threatening behaviour, had his case adjourned until November 17th pending receipt of CCTV footage.
The trial of Naoise Conarain, a 22-year-old Dublin soldier, is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury. Conarain, of Kilnamanagh, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting five gardai at his home on March 10, 2013. The accused denies assaulting Gardaí Andrew Quinn and Fiachra Molloy, causing them harm, as well as assaulting Gardaí Ross Foy, Kevin Keane, and Simon Butler on the same date. Testimony from Garda Quinn indicated he received between 25 and 30 stitches to his lip after allegedly being punched in the face while attempting to arrest a male who had assaulted a colleague. Quinn stated he was non-compliant and resistant, requiring physical restraint. He reported attending six counselling sessions and receiving sleeping tablets following the incident. Under cross-examination, Quinn described his actions as assertive rather than aggressive. Garda Kevin Keane described the scene as chaotic, alleging Conarain was screaming, shouting, and holding a blue disposable razor while attacking Quinn. Footage captured on an iPhone was shown to the jury. The matter remains at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
The Special Criminal Court has outlined its reasons for excluding the public during testimony from National Surveillance Unit (NSU) gardaí in the ongoing trial of Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly. The three men, who have pleaded not guilty to the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, face additional firearm charges. Presiding Judge Deirdre Murphy stated that the exclusion order protects the safety of surveillance officers and future state intelligence operations, noting that repeated public exposure of their physical characteristics could compromise their work. While the court permitted the defence to receive the officers' professional names and addresses, it restricted publication of their identities and NSU methodologies. In a separate ruling, the court allowed one minor witness to testify via video link but denied the request for two adult witnesses, citing legislative limits. The prosecution intends to call David Cullen, a former accused who turned state witness, as a key witness. The court ordered the disclosure of seized electronic devices containing keywords related to the case and confirmed whether Cullen was a garda informant, while refusing to disclose his psychiatric records or privileged legal advice. The trial continues on Tuesday before the non-jury court.
The Special Criminal Court has directed that the public be excluded from the courtroom while National Surveillance Unit gardaí give evidence in the trial of Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly. The three men, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly, shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6th, 2013, face additional firearm charges. The court ruled that the officers' professional names and addresses must be provided to the defence but restricted from publication, balancing safety concerns with the right to a fair trial. The prosecution intends to call David Cullen, who pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol at the same location and date, and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in July. The court ordered the disclosure of certain records regarding Cullen's credibility, including confirmation on whether he was a garda informant and PULSE records, while refusing to disclose his psychiatric records. Access to a seized laptop was granted to a defence expert. The court deemed an application to disclose legal notes between Cullen and his lawyers premature. The full trial hearing is expected to commence on Tuesday before Judges Heneghan, Dunne, and Murphy.
The Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury court, is set to decide on several legal matters in the trial of three men—Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22) and Sharif Kelly (43)—who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly (35). Butterly was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. The defendants also face firearm charges. The court will consider the State's request to allow surveillance officers to give evidence anonymously, citing a 1996 law that permits such testimony when public interest and safety warrant it. The prosecution seeks to erect a screen between surveillance officers and the public to protect the witnesses' identities. The case also involves forensic evidence, firearm residue, DNA, and testimony from David Cullen (30), who was previously jailed for unlawful possession of a pistol and whose role in the murder plan is contested. The court will rule on these matters tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing a prosecution application to allow nine National Surveillance Unit gardaí to give evidence anonymously in the trial of Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly. The three defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, face additional firearm charges. Prosecution counsel argued that the non-jury court's statutory powers permit witness protection to address safety concerns for the officers and their families, citing the court's mandate to control its own procedures. Defence counsel for Evans contended that the court lacks jurisdiction to grant anonymity, describing such a ruling as an extraordinary departure from common law and the right to know one's accuser. He noted that one witness, referred to as Garda A, had already been identified in statements in error. The presiding judge, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy, highlighted the significant legal implications of setting aside the right to know the identity of an accuser. The court, consisting of Judges Margaret Heneghan and Cormac Dunne, is scheduled to deliver its ruling on the anonymity application tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court will rule next week on whether nine National Surveillance Unit officers can give evidence anonymously in the trial of Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly. The three men, who have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6th, 2013, face a non-jury hearing. The DPP has applied to withhold the officers' identities and erect a screen to protect their physical characteristics, citing risks to their safety and the security of Garda operations. The prosecution intends to rely on forensic evidence and testimony from David Cullen, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the same firearm and was jailed for three-and-a-half years in July. Cullen, described as part of the murder plan, alleges he was tasked with collecting the gun after the shooting. Defence counsel for McGrath, Evans, and Kelly have sought disclosures regarding Cullen's credibility, including his medical records, witness protection application, and legal notes. Presiding Judge Deirdre Murphy noted the significant interference with cross-examination rights inherent in the anonymity application. The court will deliver its ruling on Tuesday afternoon, when the case resumes before Judges Dunne and Heneghan.
In October 2014, Declan Phelan, a 32‑year‑old from Tallaght, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged twice with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The first charge dated March 29, 2013, followed a search of a commercial premises in Clondalkin linked to a Garda investigation into dissident republicans. Phelan had previously been granted bail on conditions that he not associate with co‑accused or anyone convicted of a scheduled offence, keep the peace, and be of good behaviour. He was arrested again on July 3, 2013, at an alleged IRA meeting in Tallaght, where seven men were detained for membership of an unlawful organisation. His counsel, Feargal Kavanagh SC, noted he had no prior convictions and had been on remand for fifteen months, offered a job pending release. Judge Garrett Sheehan, joined by Judges Cormac Dunne and Margaret Heneghan, refused bail, citing the seriousness of breaching the first condition.
The Special Criminal Court is set to rule on a disclosure application in the trial of Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly. The three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6th, 2013. McGrath and Evans also face firearm offences at the same address and date, while all three are charged with the unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol. The prosecution intends to rely on the testimony of David Cullen, who previously pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of the same firearm and was jailed for three-and-a-half years. Cullen's plea was accepted by the DPP, resulting in a nolle prosequi on the murder count. Defence counsel have sought extensive disclosures regarding Cullen's credibility, including medical records, his witness protection application, and confirmation of whether he was a garda informant. The DPP described these requests as an attempt to impugn Cullen's character, while defence lawyers argued the disclosure process was unsatisfactory. The court will also rule on a DPP application to screen nine National Surveillance Unit gardaí to protect their identities. The matter was adjourned for the court's decision on these procedural issues.
In the Special Criminal Court, three men—Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22), and Sharif Kelly (43)—pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly (35), who was shot in the car park of the Huntsman Inn on 6 March 2013. The court heard that Butterly was lured to the car park by an unnamed man and that shots were fired from a Toyota Corolla. The prosecution will present forensic, firearm residue, DNA evidence and testimony from David Cullen (30), who was involved in the murder plan. Cullen, who had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol, was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years and later became a prosecution witness. He stated he wanted no more to do with the case and sought to separate himself from the accused.
In the Special Criminal Court, three men—Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22), and Sharif Kelly (43)—remain not guilty on charges of murdering Peter Butterly (35) and related firearm offences. The court heard that a former co‑accused, now a prosecution witness, supplied Gardaí with information about a prior fatal shooting, events in Portlaoise Prison, and IRA structure. Witness protection liaison officer reported that David Cullen (30) offered testimony on 25 June, with a security discussion the next day. The Garda liaison explained that witnesses must commit to a new lifestyle and receive retraining. Senior Garda Thomas Maguire confirmed Cullen's willingness to give evidence on the Butterly shooting, other murders, prison happenings, and IRA structure. The court has yet to rule on privilege and screening applications. The case proceeds tomorrow before Judges Cormac Dunne and Margaret Heneghan, with Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy presiding.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the transformation of David Cullen from a co-accused to a prosecution witness in the trial of Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly. The three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6th, 2013. McGrath and Evans also face firearm offences at the same address and date, to which they have pleaded not guilty. Cullen, who admitted to the unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol at the scene, pleaded guilty to that charge. In July, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison, with a nolle prosequi entered on the murder count. Detective Inspector Alf Martyn detailed how Cullen's solicitor contacted gardaí in June to propose immunity in exchange for information identifying the masterminds and those involved with the stolen car and gun. Cullen sought witness protection, financial maintenance, and relocation. The DPP approved engagement with Cullen on June 29. The court is currently considering an application by gardaí to erect a screen for nine National Surveillance Unit officers, citing risks to their safety and operational security. The three-judge panel will rule on this and other legal matters next week, with the case continuing in the non-jury court.
Lawyers for three men charged with the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican, have applied to the Special Criminal Court for disclosure of documents relating to former co‑accused David Cullen, who turned a state witness. The accused—Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22) and Sharif Kelly (43)—have pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences committed on 6 March 2013 at the Huntsman Inn car park. Cullen, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years, was later found not to be charged with murder. His medical records, psychiatric treatment history and notes with his lawyers are sought to assess his credibility. The court will decide on the disclosure applications tomorrow, with the case continuing before Judges Cormac Dunne, Margaret Heneghan and Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 1 October 2014, the court considered an application by the Director of Public Prosecution to claim legal privilege over three documents relating to the surveillance of three men charged with the murder of Peter Butterly. The accused – Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22) and Sharif Kelly (43) – had pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences. The court heard that a Toyota Corolla entered the Huntsman Inn car park shortly after Butterly was lured there, and shots were fired, causing Butterly to fall. The prosecution's case relied on forensic, firearm residue, DNA evidence and testimony from David Cullen, who was described as part of the murder plan. During cross‑examination, a senior Garda admitted that one of the documents sought for privilege was relevant to the defence.
In a Special Criminal Court case, the Director of Public Prosecutions has applied to erect a screen between the public and undercover Garda witnesses before they give evidence in the trial of three men charged with the murder of Peter Butterly. The application, made with the Garda Commissioner's knowledge, aims to protect the visual characteristics of nine National Surveillance Unit witnesses. The court will decide tomorrow. The case involves defendants Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22) and Sharif Kelly (43), all pleading not guilty to the murder and related firearm offences. The prosecution's case relies on forensic, firearm residue, DNA evidence and testimony from David Cullen, who was involved in the planning and later pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta pistol. Cullen was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years, and a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder count.
In a High Court hearing on 30 July 2014, Dean Evans, aged 22, was denied bail and remanded in custody. Evans, along with Edward McGrath (32) and Sharif Kelly (43), faces murder charges for the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly, 35, at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath, on 6 March 2013. The trio were also charged with membership of an illegal organisation claiming to be the Irish Republican Army, or Oglaigh na hEireann, on the same date. Additionally, Evans and McGrath are accused of unlawfully possessing a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi‑automatic pistol and seven rounds of 9mm parabellum ammunition at their residence, and of possessing the same weapon and ammunition with intent to endanger life at the Huntsman Inn car park.
Three Dublin men – Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22) and Sharif Kelly (43) – are set to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on 30 September for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on 6 March 2013. The men were originally due to appear earlier but the case was adjourned because the prosecution and defence agreed it was not ready. The Director of Public Prosecution intends to call former co‑accused David Cullen (30), who was jailed for 3½ years for unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol at the same location, to give evidence against the three. David Cullen pleaded guilty.
Michael Finlay, 35, and Dean Byrne, 22, were arrested in Tallaght in June on charges of IRA membership and unlawful possession of a handgun. They appeared in court via video link from Portlaoise Prison. Finlay protested the use of video, claiming it breached his constitutional rights and demanded physical presence at future proceedings. He threatened further action if his rights were further infringed. The court scheduled a remand for the next term to serve the book of evidence, with a production order set for November 11. The judge noted that the court would insist on physical presence if evidence needed to be served or presented. Both men are charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army and possession of a 9x18mm Makarov pistol, magazine, and 10 rounds of ammunition seized in Tallaght on June 5, 2014. The case remains in the evidence stage.
A 30‑year‑old man, Gary Flynn, charged with the murder of Seamus (Shay) O'Byrne, was refused bail by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court. Flynn was remanded in custody and a trial has been scheduled for 11 January 2016.
Lounes Ouachek, 44, of St Dominic's Terrace, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his wife, Ruta Ouachek, 35, by striking her on the head with a kettle bell on 23 August 2012. The court heard the couple's marriage had deteriorated after he lost his job and she began an engineering degree, and that he resented her independence. The assault left her with skull and facial fractures, motor and sensory deficits, and required surgery at Tallaght and Beaumont Hospitals. Ouachek fled the scene, left the house, and later travelled to Tunisia via Paris, leaving his wife injured for nine hours. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment with three years suspended, backdated to 14 February 2013, and ordered to stay away from his wife and undergo 18 months of post‑release supervision. The judge noted his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and foreign nationality as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects the callous and brutal nature of the crime.
A 44‑year‑old Algerian man, Lounes Ouachek, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to attempting to murder his wife, Ruta Ouachek, by striking her on the head with a kettle bell on 23 August 2012. The court heard that the couple's marriage had deteriorated after he lost his job and she began an engineering degree. After the attack, Ms Ouachek fled the house, drove to Dublin airport and left for Tunisia, leaving her injured. She was found unconscious on the bathroom floor by a neighbour and taken to Tallaght Hospital, where she suffered a complex skull fracture and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital for surgery. Ms Ouachek sustained bruising, motor and sensory deficits, and continues to suffer physical and psychological effects. The court remanded Ouachek in custody and adjourned sentencing to the following Monday.
Brian Nick McBennett, 54, of Ard Collum Avenue, Artane, was charged on 3 July 2013 with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) before the Special Criminal Court. He was one of seven men charged on the same date, including Peter Burns, Kevin Braney, Michael Barr, John Brock, Declan Phelan and Desmond Christie. The court considered objections from the Gardaí, who argued that McBennett was a senior IRA member who might continue his alleged activities if released and that a €5,000 surety was insufficient. McBennett's counsel sought temporary bail to allow him to attend his grandchild's christening. Judge Paul Butler granted temporary bail from 9 am on 1 August to 4 pm on 4 August, with an independent surety of €8,000 and a 24‑hour curfew on all days except 3 August. The decision was made despite Garda objections and the seriousness of the charge.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that the murder trial of three Dublin men—Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22), and Sharif Kelly (43)—cannot proceed as scheduled in July 2014. The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the killing of Peter Butterly (35) on 6 March 2013 at the Huntsman Inn car park. The court noted that the Director of Public Prosecution intends to call former co‑accused David Cullen (30) to give evidence, an unprecedented move. Cullen had been jailed for 3½ years for unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder count. The State's counsel said disclosure material was still pending and further letters from defence were received. The judge set a disclosure hearing for 17 July and suggested the trial might start in October, pending completion of disclosure and other procedural matters. The defendants remain not guilty on all charges.
In April 2011, David Patchell, aged 25, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Stephen O'Halloran, who was shot to death in a car on Kilmartin Drive, Tallaght, on 19 January 2009. Patchell, a former Shamrock Rovers under‑21 player, denied the murder but was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury. He was also cleared of attempting to murder two other men but convicted of causing them serious harm on the same occasion. During the trial, Patchell admitted participation in the shooting, claiming he acted under duress because he was threatened that he and his parents would be killed if he did not take part. His defence counsel sought to use duress as a defence, a first for a murder case in Ireland. The Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that duress is not available for murder. Patchell appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing a point of law of exceptional public importance.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 July 2014, the court ruled that David Cullen, aged 30, is competent to give evidence for the prosecution in the murder trial of Peter Butterly. Cullen, who was charged with the murder of Butterly, had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years. He was no longer jointly indicted after his guilty plea, so the court found he could testify against the other accused. The other defendants – Edward McGrath (32), Dean Evans (22) and Sharif Kelly (43) – had pleaded not guilty to the murder and to possession of firearms. The trial was adjourned to Tuesday for further proceedings. The court's decision was described as "unprecedented" in the context of a former co‑accused giving evidence.
At the Special Criminal Court, David Cullen pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on March 6, 2013. The court noted that Cullen is to act as a State witness against his co-accused, Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly, who are charged with the murder of Peter Butterly. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted Cullen's plea, and a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder count. Justice Iseult O'Malley stated the offence merited a ten-year sentence but reduced it to seven years due to Cullen's guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation. She proposed suspending the final three-and-a-half years of the sentence, dating from his March 2013 arrest, resulting in an effective custody period of three-and-a-half years. The court acknowledged Cullen's role in attempting to remove evidence and his renunciation of criminal activity. The matter was finalised with this sentencing proposal.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a Dublin man, David Cullen, 29, who had been charged with the murder of Peter Butterly, agreed to become a prosecution witness against his three co‑accused. Cullen, of Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan, had previously been charged alongside Edward McGrath, 32, Dean Evans, 22, and Sharif Kelly, 43, for the March 6, 2013 killing of Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, at the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co. Meath. Cullen made a voluntary statement to Gardaí and indicated he would plead guilty to a firearms offence under Section 27A of the Firearms Act, a plea acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director therefore requested that Cullen be called as a witness in the case against the other three accused. Cullen's arraignment and sentencing were postponed until the following day, and the prosecution has stated it will not call him to give evidence until after he has been sentenced. Edward McGrath pleaded not guilty. Dean Evans pleaded not guilty. Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty.
Dean Byrne, 23, of Drumcairn Park, Tallaght, was charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army and unlawful possession of a 9x18mm Makarov pistol and ammunition. He was arrested by the Special Detective Unit and Garda Crime and Security on 5 June 2014. The Special Criminal Court granted him bail on a €1,000 personal bond, with an independent surety of €20,000. He must sign daily at Tallaght Garda Station, observe a curfew from midnight to 7 a.m., surrender his passport, and avoid contact with convicted persons. Byrne is due to appear again on 29 July.
In a 2014 trial, Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case centred on a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with Finnegan and Jahiri having two children. On 21 September 2012, Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head after Jahiri allegedly burst into the house with a knife. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop her brother. Witnesses, including Anna's cousin Brian Conlon, testified about text messages and alleged threats, but Conlon denied any plot to "wipe out" Jahiri. DNA and fingerprint evidence linked the knife to Jahiri, and a post‑mortem confirmed a fatal single stab wound. The case proceeded before a jury under Mr Justice Paul McDermott.