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Man who turned State's witness against murder co-accused jailed for 3.5 years
Summary
At the Special Criminal Court, David Cullen pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol at the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, on March 6, 2013. The court noted that Cullen is to act as a State witness against his co-accused, Edward McGrath, Dean Evans, and Sharif Kelly, who are charged with the murder of Peter Butterly. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted Cullen's plea, and a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder count. Justice Iseult O'Malley stated the offence merited a ten-year sentence but reduced it to seven years due to Cullen's guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation. She proposed suspending the final three-and-a-half years of the sentence, dating from his March 2013 arrest, resulting in an effective custody period of three-and-a-half years. The court acknowledged Cullen's role in attempting to remove evidence and his renunciation of criminal activity. The matter was finalised with this sentencing proposal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who turned State's witness against murder co-accused jailed for 3.5 years. Charges or matters: the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6th, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 6th, 2013 Incident
- June 27 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 5, 2013 Other
- March 2013 Incident
- 2014-07-02 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, Co Meath, on March 6th, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She said where there was disassociation or renunciation of criminal activity it was the practice of the court to suspend a significant portion of a sentence, and it was proposed to suspend the last three-and-half years of Cullen's seven year sentence, to date from when he was first arrested in March 2013.
Accused
Co Accused
Accused
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Balbriggan
- Tallaght
- Grange Park
- Pinewood Green Road
- Dublin
- Gormanston
- Flemington Road
- and brought to Balbriggan Garda Station
- Balbriggan
Topics
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