Courts / Dublin / Report

On-the-run accused pleads guilty to murdering dissident republican

Date
2018-07-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A man arrested in Spain following his failure to appear at trial has pleaded guilty to murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly at the Special Criminal Court. Dean Evans, aged 27 and from Dublin, admitted to the charge of murdering Mr Butterly, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy remanded Evans in custody pending sentencing on 31 July, when he will receive a mandatory life sentence. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for the killing, following the conviction last year of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Three other men remain scheduled to stand trial later this year on the same charge, including a man with an address in Cavan. Evans had absconded before his trial was due to commence in January 2017, prompting a European Arrest Warrant. He was apprehended in Spain in April and subsequently surrendered to Irish authorities.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: On-the-run accused pleads guilty to murdering dissident republican. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 6th, 2013 Adjournment
July 31 Adjournment
January 2017 Incident
2018-07-20 Publication

Case subjects

Edward McGrath

Defendant

Peter Butterly

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Evans is the third person facing a life sentence for Mr Butterly's murder, after the Special Criminal Court convicted 36-year-old Edward McGrath of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght, and 48-year-old Sharif Kelly of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan last year.; Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy remanded him in custody until a hearing on July 31 when he will be given the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

Sharif Kelly

Defendant