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. 2412Murder · Co. Meath · 6 Mar 2013

Sharif Kelly refused Supreme Court appeal against life sentence for murder of Peter Butterly

Sharif Kelly, 54, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court in April 2017 for the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in Gormanston, Co Meath, in March 2013, was refused leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that matters of general public importance concerning the admissibility of accomplice-type evidence are primarily for the trial court to analyse.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court4 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKelly pleaded not guilty to the murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe killing was in view of students waiting for their schoolbus. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatButterly was a dissident republican and a father of three. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKelly was to be the driver of the getaway car but was caught by gardaí when he arrived at the meet-up point. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, fired the three fatal shots into Butterly. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder took place in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenKelly was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court in April 2017. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenButterly was shot dead shortly after 2pm on 6 March 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenKelly unsuccessfully appealed his conviction in April 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeButterly died from gunshot wounds to his neck and upper back. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCullen pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDoyle pleaded guilty to 29 sample charges in July 2024 on offences of deception, corruption and money laundering between 2018 and 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court refused permission to appeal, determining that matters of general public importance concerning the admissibility of accomplice-type evidence are primarily for the trial court to analyse. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCullen was sentenced in July 2014 to seven years in prison, with 3½ years suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDoyle was jailed for three years with the final six months suspended. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Feb2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man jailed for murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly refused Supreme Court appeal

    The Supreme Court refused Kelly's application for leave to appeal his murder conviction, finding that the Court of Appeal had applied well-established principles governing the admission of fresh evidence and that the admissibility of accomplice-type evidence is primarily a matter for the trial court.

    victim, Peter Butterly, male, irish (judged from name)Peter Butterlyconvicted, Sharif Kelly, 54, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sharif Kelly