Courts / Meath / Report

IRA accused seen meeting Butterly murderer, trial hears

Date
2019-10-16

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Gormanston

County
Meath

Summary

An accused man was observed meeting two individuals convicted in connection with the fatal shooting of dissident republican Peter Butterly one day after the killing, the Special Criminal Court heard today. Surveillance officers told the non-jury court that on March 7, 2013, Laurence Murphy was seen at a fast-food outlet in Charlestown Shopping Centre in Dublin alongside Kevin Braney and Frank Murphy. Butterly, aged 35, was shot dead on March 6, 2013, outside a public house in Gormanston, County Meath. Braney was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year following conviction for the premeditated murder. The prosecution contends the group gathered for a debrief regarding the previous day's events. Murphy, of Bettystown, County Meath, and Ray Kennedy, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA on that date. Kennedy faces an additional charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: IRA accused seen meeting Butterly murderer, trial hears. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 6, 2013 Incident
March 7, 2013 Incident
March 7 Incident
2019-10-16 Publication

Case subjects

Frank Murphy

Convicted Person

Kevin Braney

Convicted Person

Outcome: Kevin Braney (44), of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment after been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the "premeditated" murder of Mr Butterly.

Laurence Murphy

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Frank Murphy (59), a brother of accused man Laurence Murphy, of McDonagh Caravan Park, Triton Road, Bettystown, Co Meath, was jailed for three years with the final year suspended after pleading guilty to committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of former accused-turned State witness David Cullen, knowing or believing him to be guilty of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances within the State on March 6, 2013.

Peter Butterly

Defendant

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Earlier this year, Kevin Braney (44), of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment after been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the "premeditated" murder of Mr Butterly.

Ray Kennedy

Accused

Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty