Courts / Waterford / Report

Man who admitted killing nephew's friend is sentenced to nine years

Summary

In a case that unfolded over several years, Tadhg Butler, aged 37, pleaded guilty in July 2018 to unlawfully killing his nephew's friend, Michael O'Dwyer, who was 25 when he died on 10 January 2014. Butler's admission came after a series of trials that began in April 2015, where a jury was discharged, a second jury found him guilty of murder and imposed a mandatory life sentence, and a third trial ended with a hung jury. The Court of Appeal overturned the life sentence, and the State accepted a plea of guilty to manslaughter. Mr Justice Michael White, hearing the case in October 2018, set a headline sentence of 12 to 14 years, taking into account aggravating factors such as the violent and tragic circumstances of O'Dwyer's death and Butler's criminal history, and mitigating factors including Butler's remorse and lack of intent to cause serious injury. The judge backdated the sentence to the date Butler entered custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who admitted killing nephew's friend is sentenced to nine years. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• January 10, 2014 Incident
• April 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2018-10-18 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report