IRA accused told gardai he was supposed to be meet shooting victim

At the Special Criminal Court, Ray Kennedy (39) and Laurence Murphy (62) are on trial charged in connection with the killing of dissident republican Peter Butterly, who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath. The prosecution alleges the murder was meticulously planned. Detective Garda Alan Waters testified that Mr Kennedy approached him at the scene minutes after arrival, stating he was meeting a friend, Peter Butterly. The defence contends that an arrangement for the men to meet had been made beforehand. Mr Kennedy is further charged with destroying a mobile telephone SIM card on the date of the killing. Both men have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Four other men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder. The trial continues before a three-judge panel at the non-jury court.