A Dublin man was jailed for four years at the Central Criminal Court yesterday for possession of a gun used by another person in the murder of a biker at Carnew, Co Wicklow.
Dermot Griffin told the court he was "deeply sorry" for the family of Mr Stephen Murphy, a father of two children, and was very hurt about what had happened.
He said he never foresaw that the gun he handed over to another person in the early hours of May 1st, 1994 would be used to murder Mr Murphy.
Griffin said he was pursuing courses in alternatives to violence at Mountjoy Prison and was hoping to study at the Open University. He had been a heroin addict and would do all he could to keep out of trouble in the future.
Griffin (36), from Windmill Road, Crumlin, Dublin was cleared last Friday of the murder of Mr Stephen "Redser" Murphy during a motorcycle rally at Carnew on May 1st, 1994. Mr Justice Morris directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict in the case.
Mr Murphy (32), a bank porter from Copperfield Close, Mornington, Drogheda, Co Meath, died shortly after he was found shot through the head in the field at Carnew where the bikers rally was being held.
Griffin had denied the charge of murder. He told gardai in a statement he had handed over a gun to another man just hours before Mr Murphy was shot. He said he could not name the man because he feared for his life and the safety of his family.
Griffin pleaded guilty to five charges relating to possession of a Mauser pistol and ammunition for unlawful purposes.
He admitted having a Mauser 9 mm semi automatic pistol for an unlawful purpose at Carnew on May 1st, 1994 and having the gun and seven rounds of ammunition for an unlawful purpose at Windmill Road, Crumlin on April 29th, 1994 and at Rathnew, Co Wicklow on April 30th, 1994.
Imposing sentence yesterday, Mr Justice Morris said justice required that the five charges admitted by Griffin be treated as the continuation of the same offence of having possession of a pistol and ammunition over the weekend of April 29th to May 1st, 1994.
He said the court had no information as to why Griffin had had the gun and ammunition in his possession. He said not only had Griffin the gun, he arranged to have it cleaned and serviced and checked out and had transferred it on to his person on the night of April 30th/May 1st, 1994.
The judge said it was an extremely dangerous and criminally negligent act to put such a weapon into circulation at the bikers rally in Carnew where a lot of drink was being consumed. There could be no surprise that injury resulted.
In deciding sentence, Mr Justice Morris said he was taking into account the fact Griffin had admitted the charges in the District Court, made a statement admitting the charges when questioned by gardai, allowed his case to be conducted in a responsible way saving Garda time and State funds and his behaviour in prison.
The judge said he must also take into account that the maximum sentence for the offences before the court had been increased, indicating they were serious crimes. He imposed sentence of four years on each of the five counts, all sentences to run concurrently.
The sentence will date from the expiry of the current sentence being served by Griffin. The defendant is at present serving a three year sentence for malicious wounding and his release date for that offence is February 1997.
The judge refused leave to appeal against severity of sentence.
Supt Patrick Flynn outlined the events leading up to Stephen Murphy's death to the court. He said Mr Murphy had worked as a bank porter in Dublin. The dead man was a good husband and a very caring and loving father who had never come to the attention of the Garda.
Supt Flynn said Mr Murphy had a great interest in motorcycles and attended rallies. He was "a good, decent, honest living man".
The witness said Dermot Griffin was originally from Ballyfermot and had several previous convictions for offences including drug offences, malicious damage, receiving stolen goods, robbery and burglary.
Supt Flynn agreed with Mr Dennis Vaughan Buckley SC, defending, that Griffin was one of 11 children from a respectable background and had left school early. He had worked in a variety of jobs and was a keen and gifted musician.
Griffin told the court he appreciated the seriousness of the charges to which he had pleaded guilty.