Courts / Meath / Report

Non-jury court rules arrest of three murder accused was lawful

Date
2014-11-12

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Gormanston

County
Meath

Summary

The Special Criminal Court has ruled that the arrest of three men accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in Co Meath in 2013 was lawful. The court heard that the three accused, Dean Evans (24), Dublin Edward McGrath (33), and Sharif Kelly (44), were detained by members of the National Surveillance Unit shortly after the fatal shooting. Defence lawyers had argued that the arrest and detention of the men was unlawful and that their constitutional rights were breached. However, Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy stated that there had been no infringement of the constitutional rights of the three accused. The judge said that Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act was properly invoked and that the men were correctly arrested in or around 2.05 pm on March 6th, 2013. The three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly and firearm offences at the same address on the same date. A fourth man, David Cullen (30), was allegedly part of the murder plan but has become a State's witness. The trial is continuing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Non-jury court rules arrest of three murder accused was lawful. 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 6th, 2013 Incident
March 6 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
2014-11-12 Publication

Case subjects

Dean Evans

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

Dublin Edward McGrath

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty

Sharif Kelly

Defendant

Plea: Not guilty