David Cullen assigned counsel in Peter Butterly murder trial

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

David Cullen was assigned two counsel in the Peter Butterly murder trial at the Special Criminal Court, as reported on 25 November 2014. The lawyers were appointed to advise him on legal professional privilege while he was being cross-examined as the chief prosecution witness. The court also ordered excerpts from his evidence transcript concerning an alleged waiver of privilege to be given to his legal team. The trial involved three men accused of murdering Peter Butterly, who was shot dead at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on 6 March 2013.

Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy described the situation as unprecedented and said the court had no guidance from the superior courts on the issue. Lawyers for the accused objected to the transcript being provided to Mr Cullen’s legal team. The trial was continuing before Ms Justice Murphy, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and Judge Cormac Dunne.