Courts / Dublin / Report
Court rises early to consider submissions on evidence in Peter Butterly murder trial
Summary
The Special Criminal Court convened early on 6 November 2014 to hear submissions about the admissibility of evidence in the murder trial of Peter Butterly. The accused—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—had pleaded not guilty to the killing of Butterly (35) and to related firearm offences. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), had previously turned State witness. The court entered a voir dire to decide on the legality of the arrests, detentions and vehicle searches. Judges Deirdre Murphy, Margaret Heneghan and Cormac Dunne were to rule on the evidence next Tuesday. Discussions were to be held with counsel regarding Cullen's testimony. Public members were excluded when National Surveillance Unit officers testified, but were later allowed back to hear Emergency Response Unit evidence, which may still be inadmissible. The trial will resume tomorrow before the same judges.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court rises early to consider submissions on evidence in Peter Butterly murder trial. 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
- 2014-11-06 Publication
Why: The public's exclusion was ordered to protect the officers' physical characteristics from exposure and their evidence cannot be published in order to protect the unit'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
- The Special Criminal Court
- Grange Park
- Tallaght
- Pinewood Green Road
- Balbriggan
Topics
Related court reports
- 'Brilliant law academic' who stabbed elderly father to death found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
- Son who stabbed father to death retains 'full love and support' of family, insanity trial hears
- 'He told me he loved me, but I just kept stabbing him' - lawyer on trial accused of murdering father
- Mentally ill man who received suspended sentence for harassing barrister contacted her within days of release, court hears
- Former solicitor at prestigious firm pleads not guilty to murdering father by reason of insanity
- Offenders who assaulted Quham Babatunde during St Valentine's day violence get five years
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request