A man accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly has been acquitted on related firearm charges by direction of judges at the Special Criminal Court.

Kevin Braney (44), of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Butterly nearly six years ago. The father-of-two, was chased and shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston in view of students waiting for their school bus on the afternoon of March 6, 2013.

Mr Braney also denied possession of a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol with intent to commit murder and possession of seven rounds of 9mm ammunition on March 5, ….read more

(Pictured: Detective Superintendent Seamus Boland speaking outside court after the sentencing of Imre Arakas. Credit: Collins)

An Estonian hitman who was contracted by an international crime cartel and boasted to his associates in coded text messages that he would take out his target with “one shot to the head” has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said today that Imre Arakas agreed to the “vital role” of pulling the trigger and he had been prepared to offer his “own detail” on how the murder was to be performed.

“He was ready, willing ….read more

(Pictured: Det. Supt. Sean Campbell speaks outside court today after the sentencing of Jason Keating. Credit: Collins)

A father-of-three who helped a “sinister and ruthless” criminal organisation carry out the “execution-style murder” of Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan has been jailed for ten years by the Special Criminal Court.

Speaking outside court today, Detective Superintendent Sean Campbell said the case showed how an ordinary man with no links to organised crime can be targeted by those involved in Dublin’s “organised feud” and “executed” in front of his family members in callous fashion.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that the “most ….read more

Three men charged with having a submachine gun, handguns and ammunition with intent to endanger life are to be tried at the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Gary Thompson (34), with an address at Plunkett Green in Finglas, Dublin 11, his brother Glen Thompson (23), of Plunkett Drive, also in Finglas, and Robert Browne (35), of Phibsboro Road in Phibsboro, Dublin 7 are charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life at Belmont Hall Apartments, Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 on March 10, 2018.

It is alleged the men had four firearms in their possession – a 9mm ….read more

The Special Criminal Court has refused an application to exclude the evidence of a former murder accused turned State’s witness from the trial of a man accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly.

The defence had argued that he was a ‘parody of a witness’ and his testimony was ‘riddled with inconsistencies’.

The court also refused two other applications brought by the defence following the close of the prosecution’s case earlier this week. The defence had applied for a direction to acquit the accused on related firearms charges and for the three judges to discharge themselves.

Kevin Braney (44) of Glenshane Crescent, ….read more

The evidence of a former murder accused turned State’s witness should be excluded from the trial of a man accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly, as he was a “parody” and his testimony was “riddled with inconsistencies”, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Kevin Braney (44), of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Butterly nearly six years ago.

Mr Braney also denies possession of a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol with intent to commit murder and possession of seven rounds of 9mm ammunition on March 5, 2013 at Blackthorn Apartments, Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan, Co. ….read more

Judges at the Special Criminal Court trial of a man accused of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly have refused an application to exclude mobile phone evidence in the case brought after Graham Dwyer’s successful High Court action last week.

Kevin Braney (44), of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Butterly nearly six years ago.

Mr Braney also denies possession of a 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol with intent to commit murder and possession of seven rounds of 9mm ammunition on March 5, 2013 at Blackthorn Apartments, Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.

Mr Butterly, a father-of-two, was chased ….read more

A “foot soldier” helped a criminal organisation carry out the murder of David Douglas by driving one of the four cars used in the killing, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The three-judge court heard during today’s sentence hearing that Nathan Foley was a “runner” and a “foot soldier” for the criminal organisation and was friendly with the son of one of the main organisers.

“His societal connections with the principal actor in the drama in the context of strategy” was how he became involved in this event, the court was told.

Mr Douglas (55) was shot six times as he ….read more

An Estonian hitman who was put under surveillance as soon as he flew into Ireland told his associates that he would take out his target with “one shot to the head”, the non-jury Special Criminal Court heard today.

Ex-wrestler Imre Arakas, who the court heard was a former Estonian separatist who been “scarred deeply” by imprisonment in Russia, bought a wig in Dublin city and used an encrypted Blackberry phone to receive information about the movements and location of James Gately in Northern Ireland.

Arakas (60), with an address in Sopruse, Tallinn, Estonia, admitted earlier this month to conspiring with others ….read more

A former murder accused-turned State’s witness has denied uploading a picture of his ex-girlfriend online with a quote saying “Be careful, this girl has Hep C” as well as smearing dog excrement on her door. However, the witness agreed he had previously given evidence of being a “dishonest man” who would be prepared to “lie through his teeth”.

Protected witness David Cullen was being cross-examined for a second day at the Special Criminal Court trial of Kevin Braney (44), of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 who has pleaded not guilty to murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly nearly six years ago.

The court ….read more