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SCC gives reasons for excluding public from court while surveillance gardai give evidence in murder trial

Summary

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.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: SCC gives reasons for excluding public from court while surveillance gardai give evidence in murder trial. Charges or matters: the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly (35), who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6th, 2013; firearm offences at the same address and on the same date. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• March 6th, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2014-10-17 Publication

Why: A High Court judge has said the main reason for ordering the public's exclusion from court while surveillance gardaí give evidence in the trial was the effect their exposure would have on future operations. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report