Four Dublin men charged with murder of Peter Butterly

Four Dublin men have been charged at the Special Criminal Court with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly.

Mr Butterly, a 35-year-old father of two, was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath last March.

Edward Mc Grath (32), of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght; Dean Evans (22), of Grange Park Rise, Raheny; David Cullen (29), of Brackenwood Ave, Balbriggan; and Sharif Kelly (43) of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan were this morning charged with the murder of Peter Butterly at The Huntsman Inn on March 6th.

State solicitor Michael O'Donovan told the non-jury court that the case had been brought before the Special Criminal Court as the Director of Public Prosecutions had certified the ordinary courts were inadequate to secure the administration of justice.

Mr Evans and Mr Mc Grath were also charged with the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol and seven rounds of 9mm parabellum calibre ammunition at The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath on March 6th.

None of the four accused men stood when requested to as the charges were read to them by the court registrar, while the court heard that Sharif Kelly was the only one of the four men to make any reply when charged.

Detective Sergeant Vincent Markey told Mr O’Donovan that he arrested Mr Kelly at his home shortly before eight o’clock this morning.

He said that at the time of the arrest he had reasonable cause to believe Sharif Kelly committed the offence of which he is charged.

Det Sgt Markey said the accused man, who appeared before the court wearing a cream top with a dark collar, replied “no” when cautioned.

He agreed with Mr Sharif’s solicitor that the accused man had been previously arrested in relation to the investigation and had been twice released without charge.

Det Sgt Markey agreed that he “no difficulties” in finding Mr Sharif this morning for the purposes of making the arrest.

Last March Mr Evans, Mr Mc Grath and Mr Cullen were charged in connection with the fatal shooting at a special weekend sitting of the non-jury court.

Mr Evans and Mr Mc Grath were each charged with the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol and seven rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the car park of The Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath on March 6th, 2013.

They are also each charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann on the same date.

David Cullen was charged with the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol at Gormanston, Co Meath on March 6th.

There was no application for bail or legal aid on behalf of any of the four men this morning.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Mr Evans, Mr Mc Grath and Mr Cullen in custody to appear before the court again on July 26th. Mr Kelly was remanded in custody until July 16th.