Courts / Meath / Report

Man who arranged to meet dissident on day he was murdered goes on trial

Date
2021-03-01

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Gormanston

County
Meath

Summary

Ray Kennedy, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a charge of perverting the course of justice. The prosecution alleges that Kennedy deliberately destroyed a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day dissident republican Peter Butterly was shot dead in the carpark of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. The State contends that Kennedy's phone had been in contact with a burner phone connected to the killing, and that destroying the SIM card was intended to hamper the garda investigation. Kennedy, attending his trial remotely, is accused of deliberately destroying evidence of significant value. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, and two others have been imprisoned for their roles in the killing. The trial, before three judges, is expected to last four to five weeks.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who arranged to meet dissident on day he was murdered goes on trial. Charges or matters: the count. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 6, 2013 Incident
March 5 Incident
March 6 Incident
2021-03-01 Publication

Why: He suggested he did as he was piqued by the way gardai had approached him, other than in a general way in order to prevent gardai having his SIM card. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ray Kennedy

Accused

Charges: the count (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

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.