Courts / Meath / Report
IRA trial enters legal argument on "Dwyer" phone data point
Summary
The Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both charged in connection with the killing of Peter Butterly, entered legal argument regarding the retention of mobile phone data under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. This legal challenge is linked to the case of convicted murderer Graham Dwyer, whose appeal against a High Court declaration that the Act breached EU law is due before the Supreme Court in December. Murphy and Kennedy pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styled the IRA, on March 6, 2013. Kennedy is additionally charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The prosecution alleges the killing was meticulously planned. Four men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for the murder. Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy, the latter being Laurence Murphy's brother, have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: IRA trial enters legal argument on "Dwyer" phone data point. Charges or matters: membership of an unlawful organisation; carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card; murder. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 6, 2013 Incident
- March 6 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 4 Other
- March 7 Incident
- 2019-11-07 Publication
Case subjects
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.
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.
Accused
Charges: membership of an unlawful organisation; carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- The Special Criminal Court
- Supreme Court
- High Court
- Special Criminal Court
- McDonough Caravan Park
- Triton Road
- Whitestown Drive
- Blanchardstown
- Dublin
- Glenshane Crescent
- Tallaght
- Pinewood Green Road
- Balbriggan
- Grange Park
- Ballinagh
- Cavan
- McDonagh Caravan Park
- Riverdale House
- McDonough Caravan Park
Topics
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- Peter Butterly murderer fails in Supreme Court bid
- Sports complex manager sacked after taking two bottles of wine
- Man jailed for perverting investigation into dissident murder says he was unlawfully detained
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