A garda member of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) who was present in a car park shortly after dissident republican Peter Butterly was shot dead there gave evidence at the Special Criminal Court today at the trial of three men accused of the murder.

A judge has been told a large amount of behind-the-scenes work is taking place ahead of the trials of two former Anglo Irish Bank executives and its former chairman Sean FitzPatrick.

A senior garda in a Limerick murder investigation has denied that any deal was struck with the chief prosecution witness in the case.