Courts / Meath / Report
Former murder accused turned prosecution witness had mobile phone seized in prison
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the court considered the seizure of a mobile phone from David Cullen, a former murder suspect who has become a prosecution witness. Cullen, aged 30 and formerly of Balbriggan, had been part of the alleged murder plan for Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old dissident republican shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on 6 March 2013. He now testifies against three men—Dean Evans (24), Edward McGrath (33) and Sharif Kelly (44)—who plead not guilty to the murder and related firearm offences. The court rejected the defence's request to disclose recordings of Cullen's phone calls, citing that no State agency had been identified and that relevant telephone conversations had already been disclosed. The hearing also addressed whether evidence of the accused men's arrest, detention and vehicle searches could be admitted, with a ruling expected next week. The case will resume on Tuesday before the same panel of judges.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former murder accused turned prosecution witness had mobile phone seized in prison. 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
- 2014-11-07 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
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
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
- Midlands prison
- Balbriggan
- Grange Park
- Tallaght
- Pinewood Green Road
- Special Criminal Court
Topics
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