David Cullen indicated intention to plead guilty to firearms offence

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

David Cullen indicated that he would plead guilty to an offence under Section 27A of the Firearms Act. The proceedings were reported on 1 July 2014. At the Special Criminal Court, Úna Ní Raifeartaigh SC, for the State, said this was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Cullen, Edward McGrath, Dean Evans and Sharif Kelly had been charged in 2013 with the murder of Peter Butterly. Butterly was shot dead in the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co Meath, on 6 March 2013.

Úna Ní Raifeartaigh said Cullen had contacted gardaí and indicated a willingness to give prosecution evidence. She said he had given a voluntary statement the previous Friday detailing the offences and certain people’s involvement. His case was to return “tomorrow” for arraignment and sentence. She said the Director wished to call him against the other three accused, but the prosecution considered it inappropriate for him to testify unless and until he was sentenced.

Edward McGrath, Dean Evans and Sharif Kelly pleaded not guilty to Butterly’s murder. Evans and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol and seven rounds of 9mm parabellum calibre ammunition. They also pleaded not guilty to possession of the pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life. These charges concerned the Huntsman Inn on 6 March 2013.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler put the matter back until Thursday, when the prosecution was expected to open its case. Hugh Hartnett SC, for Dean Evans, said his client had no objection to the trial being adjourned from 31 July until late September or early October. Counsel for Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath also had no objection.