Judge Martin Nolan described it as “a lamentable case”, in that Butterly had spent all her adult life working with the credit union and “by reason of her competence and enthusiasm she became the manager”.
“It goes without saying that she has serious health problems and any prison term will be much more difficult for her because of this” Judge Nolan said. He accepted that it is highly unlikely that Butterly will re-offend and that she is no threat to society. Butterly, who had started working with the credit union as a volunteer, was a manager at the time. She was in a trusted role and volunteers, who acted as signatures for signing cheques, had no concerns about signing blank cheques for her.
Butterly was interviewed and co-operated fully with the investigation. She has no previous convictions.