A DUBLIN MAN wanted for the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly five years ago has been detained in Spain.

A warrant for the arrest of Dean Evans was issued by the Special Criminal Court last year after he failed to turn up for his trial.

He has been arrested by Spanish police and is due to face a European Arrest Warrant seeking his return to Ireland.

Evans(27), of Grange Park Rise, Raheny, was due to stand trial for the murder of the 35-year-old father of two but failed to turn up in court in January , 2017.

Peter Butterly was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co Meath around 2pm on March 6, 2013

Last April two Dublin were found guilty at the Special Criminal Court of murdering dissident republican Peter Butterly and jailed for life.

Four men were originally charged with the murder. One of the men, David Cullen, subsequently turned State witness, and his murder charge was dropped.

Edward McGrath (35), of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght and Sharif Kelly (47), of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan were jailed for life for Butterly’s murder.

The court heard that both men were arrested by gardai after a “callous, brutal and premeditated murder, both performing their assigned roles”.

McGrath, wearing a disguise of a black wig, had driven a stolen silver Toyota Corolla to the Huntsman Inn carpark. It was alleged that Dean Evans was a passenger in the back of the car, behind the driver’s seat, and that he shot Butterly.

McGrath then drove the Corolla away from the carpark and up Flemington Road. He stopped the car in a laneway. The court heard that this was where the car was to be destroyed.

Further back the road, Sharif Kelly was in a green Opel Zafira. Clothes with Evans’ DNA were found in the boot of the car.