Courts / Meath / Report
Pair jailed for their roles in murder of dissident republican
Summary
Two men have been convicted and sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan, received four years imprisonment with the final six months suspended after pleading guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation in the killing. Frank Murphy of County Meath was sentenced to three years with the final year suspended after pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension of a prosecution witness. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Four other men have previously received life sentences for his murder. The three-judge panel took into account both men's guilty pleas, clean records, and family circumstances when determining sentences. Both sentences were backdated to reflect time already spent in custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pair jailed for their roles in murder of dissident republican. Charges or matters: committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of former accused-turned State witness David Cullen, knowing or believing him to be guilty of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances within the State on March 6, 2013; the murder of Mr Butterly and their trials had been underway since the beginning of October last year, the court heard; the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 6, 2013 Incident
- March 3 Other
- October 12, 2018 Other
- November 14, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2014 Incident
- 2019-04-01 Publication
Case subjects
Co Accused
Charges: committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of former accused-turned State witness David Cullen, knowing or believing him to be guilty of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances within the State on March 6, 2013; the murder of Mr Butterly and their trials had been underway since the beginning of October last year, the court heard; the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: On account of this, the court reduced Murphy's sentence from four and a half years to three years. Sentencing Murphy today, the three-judge panel sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment with the final year suspended, backdated to November 14, 2018 to take into account time already spent in custody.
Defendant
Charges: committing an act to impede the apprehension or prosecution of former accused-turned State witness David Cullen, knowing or believing him to be guilty of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances within the State on March 6, 2013; the murder of Mr Butterly and their trials had been underway since the beginning of October last year, the court heard; the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Following this, Mr Justice Coffey said the court would further suspend the last six months of the sentence on condition McDermott entered a peace bond to be of good behaviour. Mr Justice Coffey, presiding, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge James Faughnan, sentenced McDermott to four years imprisonment with the final six months suspended, backdated to October 12, 2018 to take into account time spent in custody.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Riverdale House
Topics
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