Four Dublin men have been charged with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old was shot dead outside a pub in Co. Meath earlier this year.

Peter Butterly, a dissident republican with two children, was gunned down in the car park of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston on March 6th.

Dean Evans of Grange Park Rise in Raheny and his co-accused Edward McGrath of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield in Tallaght were originally charged with firearms offences and with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the IRA, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann on the same date.

Another man, 28-year-old David Cullen of Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan was also charged with having a gun in his possession on the date in question. However, the trio were brought before the Special Criminal Court this morning where the charges were upgraded to murder.

A fourth man, Sharik Kelly of Pinewood Green Road inBalbriggan also appeared in court with the three accused and he is also facing a murder charge.

They have all been remanded in custody to appear in court again on July 26th for service of the book of evidence.