A man who pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit a crime as a result of which a man died was sentenced to nine months yesterday at Cork Circuit Court.
Mr John Butler (20), of Knocknaheeny Avenue, Cork, died as a result of injuries from a single shotgun blast to the chest.
Thomas Morey (23), of Gerald Griffin Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit a crime - namely the assault of father of one Mr Butler - on October 7th, 2002.
Following the case, Mr John Butler snr said he was devastated by what he called the "lenient" sentence.
Det Garda Denis Cahill told the court yesterday that on the night of the incident, a row broke out between Mr Butler jnr and a number of parties, including Morey, in a fast-food outlet on Blarney Street.
He said that following the brief altercation Mr Butler and the accused left the area separately.
Mr Butler began walking to his home in Knocknaheeny. Morey returned in a car with a number of people and intercepted him at Gurranabraher Road.
The court was told the accused said he intended to "settle the score".
Morey told gardaí he was unaware that one of the passengers was carrying a shotgun beneath his coat. As he and the others confronted the victim a shot rang out, and the group fled the scene by car.
Judge Patrick Moran said he had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence. He sentenced Morey to nine months.