In February 2019 the High Court heard a dispute brought by James Gough, the long‑time nominee of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) to the board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI). Gough, who has represented AIRO on the HRI board since 2015, claims that AIRO's Council has prevented his name from being put forward to the membership and that another person has been nominated instead. He argues that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine must decide the matter and that AIRO should not proceed with the nomination of the other person until a ministerial decision is made. AIRO's lawyers counter that the nomination is valid, follows the organisation's rules, and that Gough has no right to bring proceedings. Gough seeks orders to restrain AIRO from holding a general meeting to elect a nominee and from nominating a member to the HRI board.
Kevin Braney, the Dublin leader of the New IRA, was convicted of murder for the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The New IRA, formed in 2012 from remnants of the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs, former Provisional IRA activists and criminal elements, is regarded by the gardai and PSNI as the biggest terrorist threat in Ireland. Braney's conviction followed extensive garda operations involving the Special Detective Unit, Garda Security and Intelligence and the National Surveillance Unit (NSU). NSU members observed Braney's movements before, during and after the murder, and provided evidence in court, though the public were excluded from the proceedings. Braney was also convicted of IRA membership in 2022 and is serving a four‑year sentence in Portlaoise Prison. The New IRA remains a primary target of Garda Security and Intelligence, with about 50 active members and several hundred sympathisers across the island.
The leader of the so-called New IRA in Dublin, Kevin Braney (44), was today jailed for life for the murder of Peter Butterly (35) almost six years ago. Braney was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court last Monday of the 'premeditated' murder of Mr Butterly, who was chased and shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6, 2013. Braney had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Butterly. Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding, said the court was driven 'irresistibly' to the conclusion that Braney was involved in the organisation and planning of Mr Butterly's murder beyond a reasonable doubt. In 2018, Braney was sentenced to four years and six months after he was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Coffey, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge James Faughnan, then sentenced Braney to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to when he first went into custody for this matter on September 14, 2017. Ms Caroline Cummings BL asked the court that a 'nolle prosequi' be entered on the outstanding count of membership, meaning the State will not be proceeding with the prosecution in relation to this count. Edward McGrath (37), Sharif Kelly (49), and Dean Evans (27) have all received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court after they were convicted of Mr Butterly's murder. The court found that Braney had been involved and participated in Mr Butterly's murder.
Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the premeditated murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, concluded beyond reasonable doubt that Braney was involved in the organisation and planning of the killing, which occurred outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013. Mr Butterly, 35, was chased and shot dead in view of students waiting for a school bus. Braney had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The court accepted evidence from State's witness David Cullen, who testified that Braney attended a meeting at Cullen's Balbriggan flat the night before the shooting, where the plan was discussed. Circumstantial evidence further linked Braney to the location and the other perpetrators. The court noted that Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans have already received life sentences for the same murder. In a separate 2018 proceeding, Braney was sentenced to four years after being found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court. Following today's verdict, the convicted man was remanded in custody until Friday, when he will be sentenced.
Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, was charged with murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the murder and was also charged with possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. The Special Criminal Court, after the prosecution's case closed, refused a defence application for a direction to acquit on the firearm charges. The court directed an acquittal on those counts. Braney's defence argued that State witness David Cullen's evidence was unreliable and that no forensic or DNA links tied Braney to the crime. The court noted the absence of any evidence linking Braney to phones or the weapons. The case remains pending, with a judgment expected early next year. Braney was remanded in custody until 18 January.
The Special Criminal Court refused to exclude the testimony of former murder accused David Cullen, who has become a State witness, from the trial of Kevin Braney, accused of murdering Peter Butterly. The defence argued Cullen was a 'parody of a witness' and his evidence was riddled with inconsistencies, but the court found the circumstantial evidence supporting his testimony—such as CCTV footage, the recovered firearm and ammunition, and surveillance of Braney's car—sufficient to establish a prima facie case. The court also rejected two other defence applications: one to acquit Braney on related firearms charges and another to discharge the judges. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, continues with Cullen's evidence admitted. Braney, aged 44, has pleaded not guilty to the murder and to possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and ammunition. The prosecution closed its case on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel for Kevin Braney, aged 44, argued that evidence from former murder suspect David Cullen should be excluded because Cullen's testimony was a "parody" and riddled with inconsistencies. Braney, charged with the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly, denied the murder and possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and ammunition. Cullen, who had originally been charged with Butterly's murder, later became a State witness after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a pistol. Braney's defence sought to exclude Cullen's evidence, withdraw it from the jury, and have the court discharge itself from the prosecution's opening address. The prosecution countered that independent evidence supported Braney's guilt and that opening speeches are not evidence. The court will rule on the applications tomorrow. Kevin Braney pleaded not guilty.
Judges at the Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney have refused an application to exclude mobile phone evidence. Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and the possession of a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol and ammunition at Blackthorn Apartments, Balbriggan, on March 5, 2013. The defence argued that a recent High Court ruling in the case of Graham Dwyer rendered the retention of such data unlawful under EU law. However, presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, ruled the evidence admissible, stating there was no evidence that the operation of the 2011 Act was inappropriate at the time. The prosecution subsequently closed its case. The trial continues, with defence counsel Bernard Condon SC indicating he is unlikely to call evidence but may make a short application. The court previously heard from State's witness David Cullen, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. Cullen described his role as picking up and burying a gun. Prosecution evidence stated that Butterly was shot multiple times outside the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on March 6, 2013, while students waited for their school bus.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin 24, continued before Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Braney has pleaded not guilty to the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013 and the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Protected witness David Cullen, who turned State's evidence after his murder charge was dropped, was cross-examined regarding his credibility. Cullen admitted to past dishonesty, including retaining WPP rent allowance and avoiding prosecution for harassment of an ex-girlfriend, which he denied. The court heard that Cullen was sentenced on July 2, 2014, to seven years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, with three and a half years suspended. The trial remains ongoing, with the defence challenging the witness's reliability and the prosecution presenting evidence of the shooting at The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney, 44, of Tallaght, Dublin, continues before a three-judge panel. Mr Braney, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, faces evidence from protected witness David Cullen. Cullen, who turned State's witness after his murder charge was dropped, testified that he was asked to pick up a gun. He described an evening in March 2013 when Edward McGrath and Mr Braney visited his Balbriggan home, with Mr Braney allegedly stating, "Make sure this is done right and he doesn't get away." Cullen identified a silver Toyota Corolla used in the operation and stated that Dean Evans and McGrath stayed at his apartment the day before the shooting. He further testified that Sharif Kelly dropped him near the scene, where a gun was thrown from a vehicle, leading to his arrest. In related proceedings, Michael McDermott admitted to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder. Frank Murphy pleaded guilty to impeding the prosecution of Cullen. Meanwhile, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans have all received life sentences at the Special Criminal Court after being convicted of Mr Butterly's murder. The trial of Mr Braney is ongoing.
Frank Murphy, 58, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of State witness David Cullen, who had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Murphy had originally pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly, a trial underway since October, but the DPP directed that he be recharged under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act, 1997. Prosecution counsel confirmed the DPP would not proceed with the original murder charges against Murphy. Co-accused Michael McDermott, 59, pleaded guilty last Friday to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder of Mr Butterly. Both men were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, until January 28, 2019, for sentencing. Kevin Braney, 43, who pleaded not guilty to the murder and related firearm charges, remains in the trial. The court refused Braney's application for the judges to discharge themselves. The trial against Braney continues.
A man from Cavan has pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to assisting an unlawful organisation in the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. Michael McDermott, aged 59, of Ballinagh, Co. Cavan, admitted to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in furthering the unlawful killing of Mr Butterly at various locations between 3 and 6 March 2013. Mr Butterly was shot outside the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath, on 6 March 2013 in the presence of schoolchildren awaiting buses. McDermott had initially pleaded not guilty to murder and related firearms charges, with trial proceedings commenced in October. He was recharged under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 this morning and entered a guilty plea to the fresh count. The prosecution entered a nolle prosequi on the three original charges. McDermott has been remanded in custody pending sentencing on 28 January 2019. Two further defendants, Frank Murphy and Kevin Braney, both deny murder and firearms possession charges relating to the incident. The trial continues before the three-judge court.
A man on trial at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of a father-of-two was removed from proceedings in an ambulance after falling unwell before the hearing commenced. Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, of McDonough Caravan Park, Bettystown, County Meath, is one of three defendants charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath, on March 6th, 2013. The thirty-five-year-old victim was shot in view of schoolchildren awaiting transport. Paramedics assessed Mr Murphy outside the courtroom and conveyed him by stretcher to the waiting ambulance. His barrister assured the three-judge court that his client was not deliberately absenting himself. The trial, which began in October, was adjourned until afternoon to allow Mr Murphy's solicitor to receive instructions once his medical situation had been clarified. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder and to firearm possession charges. Two co-accused, Michael McDermott of County Cavan and Kevin Braney of Dublin, also deny the allegations against them.
Three men have been arraigned at the Special Criminal Court on charges of murdering a dissident republican shot dead outside a public house in Meath over five years ago. Michael McDermott, aged 58, of Ballinagh, County Cavan; Kevin Braney, aged 43, from Dublin; and Frank Murphy, aged 58, of Bettystown, County Meath, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. McDermott and Braney also deny possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in March 2013, while Murphy denies possession of the same firearm and rounds on the date of the killing itself. The prosecution opened its case before three judges, outlining that the victim was shot multiple times in a carpark whilst in his vehicle, with witnesses present. The court heard that a stolen vehicle was used in the attack and subsequently recovered. The prosecution indicated that accomplice evidence will feature prominently, noting that a protected witness will testify regarding the planning and execution of the murder. The trial is expected to last approximately ten weeks.
Joseph Kiernan, aged 34, was deported from the Netherlands after serving a partially suspended three‑year robbery sentence. He was then jailed in Ireland for six years for a series of driving and drug offences. In November 2014 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen Ford Mondeo and possession of €648 of cannabis near Dublin Airport. In January 2015 he pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen BMW and dangerous driving around Gormanston, Meath. In May 2015 he pleaded guilty to possession of €3,566 of cannabis at a premises he shared with his partner on Gardiner Street, Dublin. The court imposed a four‑year sentence for the earlier drugs charge, consecutive to another four years for the later drugs offence, with the final two years suspended. Kiernan was banned from driving for 20 years. He had 55 prior convictions, including robbery, vehicle theft, burglaries and possession of stolen property.
Kevin Braney, 43, of Tallaght, was charged with the murder of Peter Butterly, 35, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013, and with membership of the Irish Republican Army. At the Central Criminal Court on 20 December 2017, Braney was refused bail. John Berry BL argued that the State was objecting under Section 2(A) of the Bail Act, citing fears that Braney might commit another serious offence if released. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard gave evidence, and Justice Patrick McCarthy ruled that bail was reasonably necessary to prevent a serious crime.
A trial date of 2 October 2018 has been set at the Special Criminal Court for five men charged in connection with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Books of evidence were served on the defendants during proceedings before the non-jury court. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan faces charges including murder, membership of an unlawful organisation, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kevin Braney of Tallaght, Dublin and Frank Murphy of Bettystown, County Meath face similar charges. Laurence Murphy of Bettystown and Ray Kennedy of Blanchardstown, Dublin are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. The trial is estimated to last up to ten weeks. Additional legal representation has been approved for each defendant.
Two men, Laurence Murphy, 60, and Ray Kennedy, 38, were granted bail by the Special Criminal Court after being charged with membership of the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) in connection with the murder of Peter Butterly, 35, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath on 6 March 2013. Solicitor Rioghnach Corbett informed the court that the State consented to the bail applications, subject to conditions. Murphy's bail was set on a €100 bond and a €10,000 independent surety; Kennedy's bail was on a €100 bond and a €16,000 independent surety. Conditions require both men to surrender passports, not apply for new travel documents, sign daily at an agreed Garda station, reside at an agreed address, observe a curfew from 12 am to 7 am, stay within jurisdiction, avoid Northern Ireland, refrain from attending Republican commemorations, and not contact prosecution witnesses.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
In a 2016 hearing, the Special Criminal Court found Brian Kenna, 54, breached bail conditions by speaking at a Wolfe Tone commemoration in Sallins, County Kildare. Kenna, who had been charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army, was required not to associate with anyone charged or convicted before the court. At the event, he was observed conversing with Edward McGrath, 33, who is also on bail for murder, firearms and IRA membership. Garda Colm Finnerty reported seeing both men together and taking their names. Kenna denied any conversation with McGrath and claimed he was not in danger of breaching bail. The court, impressed by Finnerty's testimony, ruled that Kenna had indeed breached his bail conditions and directed the matter to be reconsidered for further action.
Reports that the Government intends to establish a second Special Criminal Court have surprised legal practitioners, despite existing legislation. The current non-jury court faces a significant backlog, with the earliest available trial date in June 2017. Establishing a second court requires new judicial panels, additional resources for the DPP and Gardaí, and a secure location, potentially Cloverhill, as the current Court 11 at the Criminal Courts of Justice is fully utilized. The court currently has 34 people before it and 19 fixed trials scheduled through early 2017. Notable recent proceedings include the July 2014 sentencing of Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen, who were convicted of the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins and jailed for life following a 29-day trial. Additionally, the trial of three men accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly collapsed in January after 55 days due to disclosure issues; the matter was adjourned for a retrial in January 2017, and the accused were released on bail. A separate 21-day trial of seven Dublin men accused of dissident republican membership ended with their acquittal earlier this year. The Special Criminal Court, established in 1972, has historically handled cases related to the Troubles and more recently dissident republican and gangland activity.
The Special Criminal Court has fixed a trial date for April 2017, the earliest available slot, amid significant backlog delays. The court currently has 32 people before it and has scheduled 19 trials extending into early 2017. Among these is the trial of Donal Billings, a Co Longford man charged with possession of an improvised explosive device, scheduled for October 2016. Billings has been on bail for several years awaiting this trial, which is set to begin over five and a half years after the alleged offences. The Supreme Court previously criticised delays in the case of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, who faces alleged tax offences dating back to 1996, noting that much of the delay was caused by his repeated challenges. Recent high-profile proceedings have also contributed to the schedule's congestion. In July 2014, Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen were convicted of the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins and jailed for life following a 29-day trial. Additionally, the trial of three men accused of the murder of Peter Butterly collapsed in January after 55 days due to a disclosure issue; their retrial is ordered for January 2017, and they have been released on bail. A separate legal issue regarding IRA membership arrests is pending before the Court of Appeal, with the State set to hear an appeal next June against a ruling that gardai cannot arrest suspects for IRA membership without a warrant if previously arrested for the same offence.
Two Dublin men, Dean Evans (24) and Edward McGrath (33), were charged with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly and with firearm offences on 6 March 2013 in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath. A 55‑day trial at the Special Criminal Court collapsed after a failure in evidence disclosure. A third man, Sharif Kelly (44), was also charged with the murder but had remained on bail throughout the trial. At a High Court bail hearing, Mr Justice Michael Moriarty granted bail to Evans and McGrath, despite objections from senior Gardaí, citing the need for justice and the presumption of innocence. The retrial of all three men was fixed for the Special Criminal Court in January 2017. The judge set bail conditions including a curfew, daily Garda sign‑ins, provision of mobile phone numbers and keeping devices switched on, and warned that any breach would bring the matter back before him.
In February 2015 the Special Criminal Court announced that a retrial of three Dublin men—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—would take place on 12 January 2017. The men were originally charged with the murder of 35‑year‑old dissident republican Peter Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, County Meath, on 6 March 2013. Evans and McGrath also faced firearm offences. The first trial, which lasted 55 days, collapsed after a failure in evidence disclosure. The retrial was ordered following the disclosure of privileged material from a statement given by chief prosecution witness David Cullen to Gardaí in July 2013. Cullen, who had previously been a co‑accused, had turned State's witness and was already serving a three‑and‑half‑year sentence for lesser offences.