Kevin Braney pleads not guilty to Peter Butterly murder

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

Kevin Braney pleaded not guilty to murdering Peter Butterly. He also denied possessing a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol with intent to commit murder and possessing seven rounds of 9mm ammunition at Blackthorn Apartments, Balbriggan, on 5 March 2013.

The proceedings were reported on 27 November 2018. The trial was continuing at the Special Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge James Faughnan.

Protected witness David Cullen gave evidence about his role in the events leading to the shooting. Butterly was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013.

Cullen had originally been charged with Butterly’s murder and became a State’s witness. In July 2014, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. The DPP accepted his plea and entered a nolle prosequi on the murder count. On 2 July 2014, Cullen was sentenced to seven years in prison for firearm possession, with three and a half years suspended.