Courts / Meath / Report
Man jailed for perverting investigation into dissident murder says he was unlawfully detained
Summary
A man convicted of perverting the course of justice in connection with a 2013 dissident Republican murder has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Raymond Kennedy was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment in May 2022 after the Special Criminal Court found him guilty of destroying a mobile phone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was shot dead at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy's legal team argued he was unlawfully detained when gardaí instructed him to remain at the scene and that he should have been cautioned before making admissions about the device. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel contended Kennedy approached gardaí voluntarily and was afforded procedural fairness, including the option of a formal interview at a station. Justice John Edwards reserved judgment on the appeal. Four men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder. Raymond Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for perverting investigation into dissident murder says he was unlawfully detained. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- March 6, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-11-04 Publication
Why: Mr Justice Edwards said Kennedy had admitted to gardaí on a voluntary basis that he destroyed the SIM card because he was meeting Butterly to discuss false log-books for cars. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; At Kennedy's sentencing at the Special Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that a headline sentence of four years was appropriate but ruled on humanitarian grounds that two-and-a-half years of that term be suspended. Two other men, Michael McDermott (61), of Riverdale House, Garrymore, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, and Frank Murphy (60), of McDonagh Caravan Park, Triton Road, Bettystown, Co Meath, who played roles in the murder of Mr Butterly have also been jailed.
Places mentioned
- Whitestown Drive
- Blanchardstown
- Dublin
- Glenshane Crescent
- Tallaght
- Pinewood Green Road
- Balbriggan
- Grange Park
- Ballinagh
- Cavan
- McDonagh Caravan Park
- Triton Road
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Riverdale House
Topics
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