Courts / Dublin / Report

Meeting arranged between IRA accused and murder victim, trial hears

Date
2019-10-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Balbriggan

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard the opening of the prosecution case against Ray Kennedy and Laurence Murphy, who have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA. Kennedy, 39, is additionally charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The trial concerns the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly in March 2013. Prosecution counsel alleged that Kennedy arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting, having arranged a meeting with the victim, and subsequently destroyed a SIM card. It was further alleged that Murphy's vehicle passed the location two days prior to the incident and that he attended a debriefing meeting afterwards. The court heard that four other men have already received life sentences for the murder, while Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy, the latter being Laurence Murphy's brother, have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. David Cullen, whose plea to a lesser charge was accepted in 2014, turned State's witness. The trial is ongoing before a three-judge panel and resumes tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Meeting arranged between IRA accused and murder victim, trial hears. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA; carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card; murder; lesser charge. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 6, 2013 Incident
March 6 Incident
March 5, 2013 Incident
March 4 Hearing Or Sentence
March 7 Incident
2019-10-08 Publication

Case subjects

David Cullen

Convicted Person

Charges: lesser charge (Alleged Or Contested)

Frank Murphy

Convicted Person

Charges: murder (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Two other men, Michael McDermott (60), of Riverdale House, Garrymore, Ballinagh, Co Cavan and Frank Murphy (59), of McDonagh Caravan Park, Triton Road, Bettystown, Co Meath, who played roles in the murder of Mr Butterly have also been jailed.

Laurence Murphy

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA (Alleged Or Contested)

Michael McDermott

Convicted Person

Charges: murder (Alleged Or Contested)

Ray Kennedy

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA; carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty