Pair to be sentenced for their roles in dissident republican murder

Two men appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on 11 March 2019 for sentencing following their guilty pleas in a case arising from the March 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly in County Meath. Michael McDermott, aged sixty, from Ballinagh in County Cavan, had pleaded guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation in the commission of the killing. Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, of Bettystown in County Meath, admitted to obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of David Cullen in relation to unlawful firearms possession. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was fatally shot outside a public house in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Evidence presented established that Cullen was recruited into the operation on 3 March, with McDermott's involvement corroborated through phone records and witness statements. Murphy's role comprised arranging a collection from the scene that was prevented following garda intervention. Both men had initially entered not guilty pleas to more serious charges when trial proceedings commenced in October 2018. McDermott subsequently pleaded guilty to the fresh charge under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, with prosecutors entering a nolle prosequi on original murder and firearms charges. Murphy similarly saw prosecutors decline to pursue the murder and related firearms charges following his admission on the obstruction count. The court heard that Cullen, initially charged with the murder, later pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol and agreed to give evidence for the State. Four other men have previously received life sentences in connection with the killing. The three-judge panel remanded both defendants in custody and adjourned sentencing to 1 April 2019, having regard to their guilty pleas, previous clear records, and family circumstances.