Non-jury court rules that gardaí can give evidence to trial anonymously

The Special Criminal Court has ruled that evidence from 11 members of the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the retrial of two men accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly almost four years ago should be given anonymously and with the public excluded from court.

The court has been told that the car used by the gunman was being watched by members of the National Surveillance Unit and that a protected witness would give evidence against two men accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly almost four years ago.