The barrister for a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) employee accused of disclosing sensitive information has said his client was “spoofing” when he discussed details of an IRA murder case.

A civil servant accused of leaking information about the imminent arrest of a suspect in the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly, was “white as a ghost” after seeing the man appear in court, a trial has heard.

Jonathan Lennon, aged 35, from Clonee, Dublin 15 was charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act in relation to criminal proceedings resulting from the murder of Peter Butterly.