Bail for pair charged in connection with Peter Butterly murder

Two men charged in connection with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly have been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court.

Mr Butterly (35), a father-of-two, was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath on March 6, 2013.

Last week Laurence Murphy (60) and Ray Kennedy (38) were both charged with membership of an unlawful organisation within the state, namely Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on that date following garda investigations in to the murder.

Solicitor Rioghnach Corbett this morning on Thursday told the non-jury court the State was consenting to bail applications made on behalf of Mr Murphy and Mr Kennedy, subject to conditions.

She said bail for Mr Murphy, of McDonough Caravan Park, Triton Road, Bettystown, Co Meath, was set on his own bond of €100 and on an independent surety of €10,000.

Ms Corbett said bail for Mr Kennedy, of Whitestown Drive, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, was on his own bond of €100 and on an independent surety of €16,000.

She said that among the conditions are requirements for both men to surrender their passports and travel documentation and to not apply for new travel documents.

They must each sign on daily at an agreed Garda station, reside at an agreed address and observe a curfew between the hours of 12am and 7am.

The men must not leave the jurisdiction, enter Northern Ireland nor attend any Republican commemorations.

They also must not contact either directly or indirectly any proposed prosecution witnesses in the case and must provide a mobile phone number to gardai. Both men must keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded the men to appear before the court again on October 26th.

As the three judges of the court rose, there were shouts of: “end super-grass trials” and: “super-grasses are paid to tell lies” from the dock.