Accused seen with slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, trial hears

At the Special Criminal Court, Detective gardaí provided evidence that Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was observed in the company of Alan Ryan, the slain Real IRA leader, on separate occasions during 2011 and 2012 in the Donaghmede area of Dublin. The observations formed part of proceedings against Kennedy and Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, County Meath, both of whom have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on 6 March 2013, the date connected to the fatal shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old Butterly was killed in a car park at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath. During garda interviews, Kennedy acknowledged that he and Butterly had arranged to meet at the premises at 2.30pm on the day of the shooting. Murphy, when interviewed, denied membership of the IRA. Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Prior evidence heard by Ms Justice Tara Burns indicated that a text message was transmitted from a phone connected to Kennedy to the victim's wife approximately seventeen minutes before the shooting occurred. A witness in the Witness Protection Programme also gave evidence characterising the incident as an IRA operation. The investigation into Butterly's death has resulted in significant convictions. Four men have already received life sentences following their conviction for the murder, whilst two others received custodial sentences for their roles in the killing. The trial continues before the three-judge court, with prosecution evidence continuing to establish the circumstances and planning surrounding the incident in County Meath nearly six years prior.