Courts / Dublin / Report
Legality of arrest key issue in trial of three men accused of murdering Peter Butterly
Summary
In the Special Criminal Court, the legality of the arrest of three men charged with the murder of Peter Butterly was a key issue. The defendants—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—had pleaded not guilty to the murder and to firearm offences at the same scene. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), had turned State's witness. The court heard that Butterly, aged 35, was lured to the car park of the Huntsman Inn on 6 March 2013, where a Toyota Corolla entered and shots were fired at his vehicle and as he fled. Prosecutor Úna Ní Raifeartaigh SC reported Butterly was found collapsed and pronounced dead. The case, involving a tracking device on the Corolla, will continue tomorrow before the panel of judges. The public was allowed to re‑enter the courtroom after a surveillance garda was escorted through the custody area. The evidence of the Emergency Response Unit remains potentially inadmissible.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Legality of arrest key issue in trial of three men accused of murdering Peter Butterly. Charges or matters: the murder of 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 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-10-30 Publication
Why: However, members of the public had been excluded from court to protect the officer's physical characteristics from exposure and their evidence cannot be published in order to protect the NSU's methodology. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of 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
Accused
Charges: the murder of 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
Accused
Charges: the murder of 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
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Grange Park
- Tallaght
- Pinewood Green Road
- Balbriggan
Topics
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