Court to rule on witness evidence in Peter Butterly murder case

The Special Criminal Court will rule later on the admissibility of a prosecution witness's evidence in the trial of three men charged with murdering a dissident republican.

Peter Butterly was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath around 2pm on March 6th 2013.

Three Dublin men are on trial at the non-jury court, charged with his murder.

Dean Evans (24) of Grange Park Rise, Raheny; Edward McGrath (33) of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght; and Sharif Kelly (44) of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan have pleaded not guilty to murdering the 35-year-old father of two.

Mr Evans and Mr McGrath have also pleaded not guilty to firearm offences on the same occasion.

The trial is in its 41st day and the three judges were last week shown CCTV footage captured at the pub car park that afternoon. It showed various vehicles entering and exiting the car park, but did not show the actual killing.

The court heard from a witness on Wednesday as part of a ‘Voir Dire’ or trial within a trial. The court will decide later if this witness’s evidence is admissible.

The trial has already heard that Mr Butterly was ‘lured’ to the car park that day by another man not before the court.

A Toyota Corolla was seen entering the car park and, within minutes, shots were discharged at Mr Butterly’s vehicle. Further shots were discharged when he exited his car and attempted to flee.

Mr Butterly was found by a lone garda collapsed in a corner of the car park and was pronounced dead a short time later.

The trial continues before the three-judge court, with Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy presiding.