Courts / Dublin / Report

Evidence of surveillance gardai in murder trial not to be published by order of non-jury court

Date
2014-10-29

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Balbriggan

County
Dublin

Summary

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.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Evidence of surveillance gardai in murder trial not to be published by order of non-jury court. 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 6 2013; firearm offences at the same address, on the same date. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 6 2013 Other
2014-10-29 Publication

Case subjects

Dean Evans

Defendant

Charges: 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 6 2013; firearm offences at the same address, on the same date (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Edward McGrath

Accused

Plea: Not guilty

Sharif Kelly

Accused

Plea: Not guilty