David Cullen gave evidence in Butterly murder trial

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

David Cullen, previously accused of murdering Peter Butterly, gave evidence for the prosecution at the Special Criminal Court on 18 November 2014. Justice Deirdre Murphy presided at the non-jury court.

Peter Butterly was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, County Meath, on 6 March 2013. Edward McGrath, Dean Evans and Sharif Kelly had pleaded not guilty to his murder. The report said the three men also faced firearm offences and charges of membership of a dissident republican organisation.

Significant security arrangements were in place at the Criminal Courts of Justice as Cullen gave evidence. People entering the building were screened, while members of the public entering the courtroom had to show identification and hand their mobile phones to gardaí.

The report said Cullen had cooperated with gardaí and agreed to give evidence. It said that, for his cooperation, he had only been charged with possession of a firearm. He was serving a five-year sentence.

The trial remained ongoing, with security arrangements due to continue while Cullen gave evidence. The proceedings were reported on 18 November 2014.