Witness wanted no more to do with case, court told

The trial of three men charged with murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly has heard a former co-accused "wanted no more to do with" the case when he gave evidence.

Edward McGrath, aged 32, of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght; Dean Evans, aged 22, of Grange Park Rise, Raheny; and Sharif Kelly, aged 43, of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter Butterly, aged 35, on March 6, 2013.

Mr Evans and Mr McGrath have also pleaded not guilty to firearm offences at the same address and date.

The Special Criminal Court has heard Mr Butterly was “lured” to the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath, on the date in question by another man not before the court and shots were discharged from a Toyota Corolla vehicle in his direction.

The prosecution’s case will call on evidence from David Cullen, who was “part of the murder plan himself”, the court heard.

Yesterday, Detective Chief Superintendent John Gilligan told the court Mr Cullen “wanted no more to do with” the case when he gave evidence against the accused. The senior garda told Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha, defending Mr Kelly, that Mr Cullen wanted to “separate himself from the group that was before the court”.

Lawyers for each accused have sought the disclosure of all potentially relevant information regarding the reliability and credibility of Mr Cullen as a prosecution witness.

The non-jury court is yet to make a ruling on each side’s legal applications.

The case continues.