Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0772Murder · Co. Meath · 6 Mar 2013

Court of Appeal upholds Kevin Braney's murder conviction over Peter Butterly

Peter Butterly, a 35-year-old man, was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn pub in Gormanston, Co Meath, on 6 March 2013. Kevin Braney, a 49-year-old man from Tallaght, Dublin, and David Cullen were linked to the killing, with Cullen providing accomplice evidence at trial. Braney was found guilty of murder by the Special Criminal Court in February 2019, after having been sentenced in 2018 to four years and six months for IRA membership. On 20 June 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed Braney's appeal, upholding the conviction and ruling that a KFC surveillance recording was admissible.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Peter Butterly was lured to a meeting at the Huntsman Inn pub in Gormanston, Co Meath, where he was chased and shot dead in the car park in view of students waiting for their school bus.
When
The murder occurred on 6 March 2013.
Cause
Butterly died from gunshot wounds to his neck and upper back.
Investigation
Gardaí used a surveillance device under the Criminal Law (Surveillance) Act 2009 to listen in on Braney at a KFC in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas.
In court
  • Braney was found guilty of murder by the Special Criminal Court in February 2019.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed Braney's appeal on 20 June 2026, upholding the conviction and ruling the KFC surveillance recording admissible.
Sentence
Before his murder conviction, Braney was sentenced in 2018 to four years and six months for IRA membership.
Other details
David Cullen provided accomplice evidence in the trial.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPeter Butterly was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn pub in Gormanston, Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí used a surveillance device to listen in on Braney at a KFC in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatButterly was lured to a meeting at the Huntsman Inn where he was chased and shot dead in view of students waiting for their schoolbus. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder occurred on 6 March 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeButterly died from gunshot wounds to his neck and upper back. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí used the Criminal Law (Surveillance) Act 2009 to authorise the listening device without a District Court application. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBraney was found guilty of murder by the Special Criminal Court in February 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBefore his murder conviction, Braney was sentenced in 2018 to four years and six months for IRA membership. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBraney had originally sought to advance 51 grounds of appeal. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Murderer’s privacy rights not breached by surveillance at KFC, court rules

    Court of Appeal dismissed Braney's appeal against his 2019 murder conviction, upholding the admissibility of a KFC surveillance recording and rejecting arguments about NSU officer anonymity and the accomplice evidence of David Cullen.

    convicted, Kevin Braney, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kevin Braneyvictim, Peter Butterly, 35, male, irish (judged from name)Peter Butterlyaccused, David Cullen, named, irish (judged from name)David Cullen