The Court of Appeal has increased Aaron Brady's sentence for perverting the course of justice from three years to five years following a successful appeal by the State. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy described the offending as an "affront to the administration of justice," noting it was pre-meditated and insidious. Brady, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of video-recording a witness interview with Ronan Flynn and conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify. The court found the original sentence unduly lenient, failing to adequately weight general deterrence. Although the new five-year term will not alter Brady's effective custody due to his existing life sentence, the ruling establishes a significant precedent. Dean Byrne, who was found guilty of conspiring with Brady to interfere with witness Cahill, was sentenced to two years. Byrne's conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal, but he is currently challenging that decision before the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear his case on a question of public importance regarding the lawfulness of persuading witnesses not to give evidence.
The Supreme Court will hear an appeal by Dean Byrne, a Dublin man with over 120 convictions, challenging his 2024 Special Criminal Court conviction for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Byrne was sentenced to two years for allegedly conspiring with Aaron Brady to dissuade witness Daniel Cahill from testifying in Brady's murder trial. The Court of Appeal previously rejected Byrne's bid to overturn this conviction, finding he used unlawful means by sending the witness's Garda statement to a third party. The Supreme Court will now consider whether it can ever be lawful to persuade a witness not to give evidence. Meanwhile, Aaron Brady, who pleaded guilty to two offences related to efforts at perverting the course of justice during his trial, was sentenced to three years. Brady is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the 2013 murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Byrne's appeal raises a question of public importance regarding the legality of witness persuasion, while his prior record includes an 18-year sentence for aggravated burglary in Tipperary.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed the leniency of the three-year sentence given to Aaron Brady for conspiring to pervert the course of justice during his capital murder trial. Brady is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The DPP's legal team argued that the case raised an important issue of principle, as deterrence is crucial in such circumstances. During the appeal, the judge noted Brady was carrying a water bottle, which could be used as a weapon. Brady was sentenced to three years in prison for perverting the course of justice, but this will not affect his existing life sentence. Brady admitted to recording footage of an interview between gardai and Ronan Flynn, a witness who claimed he heard Brady admit to shooting Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The footage was later posted on social media, which the judge described as the most outrageous contempt of court. Brady also sent photographs of portions of Daniel Cahill's statement to Dean Byrne, a violent criminal in prison, in an attempt to intimidate witnesses.
Dean Byrne (32) has lost his appeal against a conviction for conspiring to pervert the course of justice in the trial of garda murderer Aaron Brady. Byrne had attempted to dissuade witness Daniel Cahill from giving evidence by sending his garda statement to a third party. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore dismissed Byrne's appeal, stating that the use of the witness statement was unlawful. Byrne's lawyers had argued that no offence was committed if lawful means were used to dissuade a witness from giving false evidence, but the court found that Byrne had used unlawful means. The Director of Public Prosecutions intends to appeal the leniency of Byrne's two-year sentence. Byrne, who has spent most of his adult life in prison, is no longer in custody but was present for the ruling.
In the Court of Appeal, Dean Byrne, aged 31, claimed he had a "benign" motive for attempting to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence in the trial of garda murderer Aaron Brady. Lawyers for Byrne argued that Byrne honestly believed Cahill would give false evidence and that his actions were not intended to pervert the course of justice. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Lorcan Staines SC, countered that Byrne's conduct was an attempt to pervert the course of justice, citing a recorded exchange in which Byrne insulted Cahill. The Court was asked to decide whether any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence constitutes an attempt to pervert the course of justice. Byrne's appeal concerns the conviction and two‑year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring with Brady to dissuade Cahill, a conviction that followed his earlier 18‑year sentence with four years suspended for a 2013 burglary.
Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to an additional three years for conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Brady admitted responsibility for recording a video of an interview between Garda officers and witness Ronan Flynn, in which Flynn claimed Brady had admitted to shooting Donohoe three times. The video was later posted on social media, accusing Flynn of "touting" and calling him a "rat." Brady's co‑conspirator, Dean Byrne, aged 31, received a two‑year sentence for persuading a witness not to give evidence. Byrne had been due for release later that year after a 14‑year sentence for aggravated burglary. The judge noted that the offences struck at the heart of the administration of justice but did not involve violence, threats or inducements, and therefore the sentences were reduced from the headline years to the final terms.
Aaron Brady, aged 33, admits that his attempt to pervert the course of justice during his trial was wrong but maintains that witnesses gave untrue evidence against him. He was convicted in 2013 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe during a robbery and is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. In 2020 he pleaded guilty to recording a witness interview and sending photographs to a prison colleague in an effort to influence testimony. Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the witnesses were under pressure during the COVID lockdowns and that Brady's actions were a serious error of judgment, not a justification. The court was asked to consider leniency and to allow the maximum benefit for Brady's guilty plea. Brady's perverting‑justice sentence cannot run consecutively to his life sentence, but the DPP seeks it to run consecutively to his 14‑year robbery sentence.
In a 363‑page Court of Appeal judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards dismissed nearly 50 grounds of appeal submitted by Aaron Brady, who remains convicted of the 2013 murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The court found no error in the trial judge's decision to proceed during the Covid‑19 pandemic and rejected arguments that jurors were coerced or that the trial was unfair. Brady's appeals concerning the admissibility of video‑link testimony from Daniel Cahill and Molly Staunton, and allegations of inducement by U.S. authorities, were also rejected. The court upheld Brady's life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years, allowing parole application in February 2048 after 30 years of imprisonment. Brady, aged 33 at conviction, was found guilty of shooting Donohoe during a credit‑union robbery in Louth on 25 January 2013.
Aaron Brady, aged 33, failed to overturn his conviction for the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The Court of Appeal rejected nearly 50 grounds of appeal presented over a seven‑day hearing in October. The judges dismissed all arguments, including a claim that the trial's integrity was breached when key witness Molly Staunton was interrupted by an unseen man during a video link from New York. The Court found the interruptions did not pose a real risk of an unfair trial. Brady's conviction remains, and he will continue serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum, plus a concurrent 14‑year sentence for robbery. The case, the longest murder trial in Irish history, concluded with an 11‑to‑1 jury verdict in August 2020. The Court noted the hearing was the longest in its ten‑year history.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned several matters scheduled for July 15 due to a planned barrister strike, with proceedings rescheduled for the following day. Aaron Brady, convicted of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was due to be sentenced for attempting to pervert the course of justice. He had pleaded guilty to video-recording an interview between witness Ronan Flynn and An Garda Síochána. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded. Additionally, four men accused of the murder of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown were scheduled to appear. Noah Musueni, Wayne Deegan, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut face murder charges; their cases were adjourned. Jonas Kabangu and an unnamed juvenile are charged with violent disorder at the same location, while Jaures Kumbu is charged with possession of a submachine gun. All these matters were adjourned to July 16. The court noted the strike dates of July 9, 15, and 24. No sentences or findings were delivered during this session.
A violent thug, Dean Byrne, aged 30, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Aaron Brady's murder trial of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Byrne, already serving an 18‑year sentence with four suspended for a 2013 burglary, conspired with Brady to dissuade key witness Daniel Cahill from giving evidence. Byrne attempted to contact Cahill's family and persuaded a former housemate of Cahill's father to pressure Cahill, repeatedly urging him not to testify. He also circulated excerpts of Cahill's statement to a third party. Brady, aged 33, had previously pleaded guilty to sending a video of a witness interview to Gardaí. The court found the conspiracy intended to interfere with the trial and adjourned Byrne's sentencing to 15 July. The hearing for Brady is scheduled for the same date.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing hearing for Aaron Brady, who murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, and the related proceedings concerning Brady's alleged campaign of witness intimidation during his 2020 trial. The court was also scheduled to hear evidence on Dean Byrne, who denies conspiring with Brady to pervert the course of justice. Mr Justice Paul Burns announced that the verdict on Byrne is not yet ready and adjourned both matters to 14 June. Byrne, aged 30, is accused of conspiring with Brady in Mountjoy Prison between 8 April and 22 June 2020 to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's murder trial, an act intended to pervert the course of justice. Byrne pleaded not guilty. Brady, aged 33, was previously convicted of Donohoe's murder in 2013 and has pleaded guilty to a 2020 charge of recording a witness interview to pervert the course of justice.
During his 2020 trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, Aaron Brady, aged 33, is alleged to have orchestrated a witness‑intimidation campaign. Prosecuting counsel Lorcan Staines SC presented evidence that Brady, while imprisoned in Mountjoy, conspired with Dean Byrne, aged 30, to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. Byrne is accused of sharing Cahill's statement with relatives and other associates, an act the court deemed unlawful. Byrne's defence, represented by Padraig Dwyer SC, argued that no evidence shows Byrne met Brady or was aware of the campaign, and that the alleged sharing of the statement was not intended to coerce Cahill. The case remains pending, with the court adjourned to 29 May for a verdict on Brady's alleged perverting of the course of justice.
The Special Criminal Court rejected arguments that the charge against Dean Byrne should be dismissed. Byrne, 30, from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady, the convicted garda killer, to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. The court found that, at its highest, the prosecution case could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Byrne conspired with Brady between April 8, 2020 and June 22, 2020 while both were in Mountjoy Prison's D‑wing. Byrne allegedly used a smartphone to disseminate Cahill's garda statement and recruited members of Cahill's family to discourage him from testifying. The court will hear closing arguments tomorrow before delivering a verdict. The case remains ongoing.
The Special Criminal Court will decide next week whether to direct the acquittal of Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, who is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. Byrne's lawyers argue that he genuinely believed Cahill would perjure himself and that his motive was to prevent an injustice, requesting the court to direct an acquittal. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Lorcan Staines SC, counters that any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence is an attempt to pervert the course of justice, and that such concerns can be addressed by providing information to the Gardaí or the DPP. The case, which has been heard for two days, will be judged by the three‑judge panel on Tuesday.
Dean Byrne, 30, of Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, is on trial in the Special Criminal Court for conspiring with Aaron Brady in Mountjoy Prison to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. Byrne's defence, led by Padraig Dwyer SC, argues that Byrne genuinely believed Cahill would perjure himself and that any attempt to persuade Cahill was an attempt to secure justice, not to pervert it. Dwyer contends that the indictment is unclear and lacks evidence of wrongdoing, noting that Byrne and Brady were in prison while Cahill was in New York, making persuasion unlikely. Prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC counters that any interference by a private citizen, even with a benign motive, is an intentional act that interferes with public justice.
In the trial of Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, the prosecution is set to finish its evidence tomorrow. Byrne, who was in Mountjoy Prison when arrested on 8 October 2020, is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's 2020 murder trial. Byrne denied owning a mobile phone found in his cell and denied knowing Brady or Cahill. He claimed the phone belonged to a former inmate and that any video or audio messages on it were not made by him. Byrne also denied that a threat to harm Cahill was an attempt to pervert the course of justice. The prosecution alleges Byrne's actions were intended to influence Cahill's testimony. The case is before a three‑judge court, and the prosecution's evidence will conclude tomorrow. The trial remains ongoing. Dean Byrne pleaded guilty.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing, a Mountjoy prison officer discovered a hidden mobile phone inside a sock in a wall cavity of Dean Byrne's cell. The phone, a black Sony, contained a Facebook account named Dean Byrne that had communicated with a relative of Daniel 'Dano' Cahill, a key witness in Aaron Brady's murder trial. Garda Orla Madden retrieved Facebook conversation records showing Byrne's attempts to prevent Cahill from giving evidence, including voice messages urging Cahill not to share his statements and claims that Cahill's testimony was false. Byrne, aged 30, is charged with conspiring with Aaron Brady to pervert the course of justice by persuading Cahill not to testify. The trial continues before Judges Paul Burns, Elma Sheahan and Marie Keane. The article reports only the discovery of the phone and the related communications, without detailing any trial outcome.
Aaron Brady, who killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, was an enhanced prisoner in Mountjoy with special privileges, including a laptop for reviewing evidence. He was housed on the D‑wing basement floor, a level reserved for inmates with good behaviour, and had more freedom to move, attend education, and receive extra phone calls and money. Brady, a 33‑year‑old former resident of New Road, Crossmaglen, was convicted in 2020 of Donohoe's murder and later pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice for recording a video of witness Ronan Flynn. Dean Byrne, a 30‑year‑old from Cabra Park, was tried for conspiring with Brady between April and June 2020 to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's trial. Byrne pleaded not guilty to the single charge. The Special Criminal Court heard these facts during the trial.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 April 2024, Dean Byrne, aged 30, admitted that he had used a mobile phone found in his Mountjoy prison cell to send photographs of Daniel Cahill's statement to a relative of Cahill. Byrne also admitted that he had sent a message to the relative asking him to persuade Cahill not to testify and that he had called Cahill a "rat", "dirtbag" and "filthbag" in an exchange with another man, offering to "do damage" to Cahill. The prosecution alleges that Byrne was part of a campaign of intimidation against witnesses in Aaron Brady's 2020 murder trial. Byrne's admissions, made under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, are said to be significant and could substantially shorten the trial, which was originally estimated to last 14 weeks. The case concerns Byrne's alleged conspiracy with Brady to pervert the course of justice between 8 April 2020 and 22 June 2020. Dean Byrne pleaded guilty.
Aaron Brady, who was convicted in 2020 of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to perverting the course of justice. He admitted to recording footage of an interview between gardai and witness Ronan Flynn, which was subsequently posted online accusing Flynn of "touting." Brady did not enter a plea to a further count of conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade a State witness not to testify, though prosecution counsel argued this should be considered at sentencing. Dean Byrne, 30, from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, remains on trial for the conspiracy charge. Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned sentencing to May 29. The court refused an application by Brady's lawyers to ban media reporting of the guilty plea, rejecting arguments that coverage could prejudice a potential retrial if Brady's murder conviction is overturned on appeal. The judge noted that a retrial is merely a possibility and that any prejudice could be remedied by judicial directions to the jury. Brady, 33, formerly of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the 2013 murder. He appealed his conviction last November and is awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal.
The trial of Aaron Brady for perverting the course of justice has been postponed for a third day after the Director of Public Prosecutions and Brady's lawyers held discussions. Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, said he had received an instruction from Brady that prompted the matter to be presented to the DPP. Prosecutor Lorcan Staines SC indicated he would consult with the DPP before proceeding and expects to have his instructions by the next day. The trial, originally scheduled for this week, was adjourned to give the defence time to review additional evidence served recently. Brady, aged 33, and co‑accused Dean Byrne, aged 30, are charged with conspiring to persuade State witness Daniel Cahill not to testify in Brady's murder trial of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, which took place during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Jenkinstown, County Louth, on 25 January 2013.
Lawyers for Aaron Brady, who shot Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, warned that the upcoming trial for perverting the course of justice could generate damaging publicity. Michael O'Higgins SC told the Special Criminal Court that Brady is still awaiting the outcome of an appeal against his murder conviction. If the appeal succeeds, a retrial at the Central Criminal Court, which would involve a jury, may follow. O'Higgins expressed concern that media coverage could influence jurors and plans to apply to the court, citing the Irish Times v Murphy judgment on media reporting. The perverting the course of justice trial was adjourned to allow the defence to consider new evidence. Brady (33) and co‑accused Dean Byrne (30) are charged with conspiring to persuade State witness Daniel Cahill not to testify between April and June 2020, and with recording a video of a witness interview between February and May 2020.
Eugene Hanratty Snr, 65, of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, will remain in custody after the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeals against conviction and sentence. He was convicted by a jury in October 2022 of assault causing harm to neighbour Martin McAllister in November 2012, an incident that left Mr McAllister with multiple broken facial bones and permanent loss of peripheral vision. Hanratty Snr, who pleaded not guilty, had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment, comprising a headline sentence of five years reduced by one year in mitigation and a further year suspended. Mr Justice Birmingham, presiding over the appeal, stated the headline sentence was "entirely understandable" and the mitigation "generous," finding no basis to deem the sentence unduly severe. The court also rejected the defence argument that the trial judge erred by treating the lack of a guilty plea as an aggravating factor, noting this is deeply embedded in jurisprudence. Additionally, the court deprecated the "developing practice" of defence applications to withdraw cases from juries as a matter of course, affirming the trial judge was correct to refuse such an application. The appeals were dismissed, leaving the original conviction and sentence intact.
Eugene Hanratty Snr (65), of Castleblayney Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is appealing his conviction for assault causing harm at Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, on November 24, 2012. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury following a trial in October 2022 and sentenced to three years in prison. The matter was adjourned at the Court of Appeal, with Mr Justice George Birmingham reserving his decision. Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC argued the conviction should be overturned due to prosecution failings, including lost forensic evidence, a broken chain of custody regarding a jacket, and the failure to interview Hanratty Snr or his son, Eugene Jnr. The State, represented by Garret McCormack BL, countered that these issues did not warrant removing the case from the jury, noting the trial judge had properly considered the evidence. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally described the attack as unprovoked and premeditated, noting Hanratty Snr stamped on the victim's arm knowing he was a musician. The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced it by one year, and suspended the final year for 12 months, resulting in an effective custody period of two years. Hanratty Snr was also ordered to have no contact with the victims for 10 years. In a separate 2016 trial, Eugene Hanratty Jnr was acquitted of joint enterprise charges related to the same incident.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 12 October 2023, Aaron Brady's defence argued that two jurors in his 2020 murder trial may have visited Crossmaglen after the verdict, a claim that required clarification. Brady, aged 32, was convicted of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life imprisonment with a 40‑year minimum, plus a concurrent 14‑year robbery term. The defence sought leave to raise this as a new ground of appeal, citing a meeting between a juror and the jury minder on 3 March 2021 and a subsequent encounter on 16 June 2022. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, maintained that the law clearly prohibits questioning jurors about deliberations after a verdict, citing the long‑established rule that such inquiries undermine finality.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 11 October 2023, Aaron Brady's defence lawyers argued that the State had failed to disclose a police report about steroids found in the home of key prosecution witness Daniel Cahill until after his cross‑examination. The defence claimed this omission undermined Cahill's credibility and made the trial unfair. Brendan Grehan SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, counter‑argued that the late disclosure was a privileged police‑to‑police report and that the defence had chosen not to recall Cahill. He also highlighted that the defence had sought to show a picture of Cahill's penis to the jury, describing it as an attempt to humiliate the witness. The appeal concerns Brady's 2020 conviction for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, for which he is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum. The hearing will continue the following day before a three‑judge panel.
Aaron Brady, convicted of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe, has taken his appeal to the Court of Appeal. His lawyers argue that the prosecution failed to investigate an interruption of key witness Molly Staunton's testimony, which occurred via video link from New York during the Covid‑19 lockdown. An unseen man interrupted Staunton while she was testifying, and the court later read the jury a transcript of that exchange. Brady's counsel claims this was unlawful and prejudicial, and that the court erred by not ordering an investigation into the circumstances. The Director of Public Prosecutions contends the judge acted within his jurisdiction, that the interruption did not affect the evidence, and that the jury should not be discharged. The appeal hearing will continue tomorrow before a three‑judge panel. The case remains a landmark Irish murder trial, with Brady serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum.
Aaron Brady, convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, is appealing his conviction in a six-day hearing before the Court of Appeal. On the fourth day, senior counsel Fiona Murphy argued that the trial's integrity was "well and truly breached" when key witness Molly Staunton, testifying via video link from New York, was interrupted by an unseen man who told her to "stop it right now" before the connection was cut. Murphy submitted that the trial court erred in refusing to discharge the jury, claiming the disruption rendered the trial "fundamentally flawed" and that the State failed to implement adequate safeguards for the witness. She contended that the jury might perceive the interference as prejudicial to Brady, despite no evidence linking the man to the appellant. In reply, Lorcan Staines SC for the DPP stated that declaring Staunton a hostile witness was a discretionary matter for the trial judge. Brady, who was found guilty by an 11-to-1 majority jury at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum term for the murder, which occurred during a robbery in 2013. He was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, running concurrently. The appeal continues before Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Tara Burns.
During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that a secret tape recording of a US Special Agent, Matt Katske, coercing a suspect to implicate Brady in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe should have been admitted as evidence. The recording, described as "liquid gold," shows Katske offering assistance and threatening a suspect's brother in exchange for information that would place Brady in the frame. O'Higgins claimed the trial judge erred by refusing to allow the tape before the jury and by denying cross‑examination of Katske. The appeal also contends that the deportation of Brady to Ireland was effectively an extradition, undermining his trial rights. Brady, 32, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the 2013 murder and a concurrent 14‑year robbery sentence. The appeal will continue before the Court of Appeal on Monday. Aaron Brady was found guilty.
In a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel argued that the Court of Appeal erred by not ordering an oral hearing on the disclosure of US Homeland Security documents that limited the evidence two US special agents could give. Brady, convicted in 2020 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life with a 40‑year minimum, is seeking to overturn his conviction. The appeal also contends that the prosecution failed to disclose letters of scope in a timely manner, which restricted the testimony of Special Agents Mary Anne Wade and Matt Katske. The letters, said to have prevented the agents from revealing the immigration status of witnesses, were allegedly not disclosed until May 2020. The hearing continues with the defence expected to raise further complaints about a video‑link witness. The case remains an ongoing appeal before the Court of Appeal.
During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel argued that the jury's deliberations were compromised by the Covid‑19 pandemic. Brady, convicted in 2020 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life with a 40‑year minimum, claimed that jurors were worried about dying or about loved ones dying, which he said deteriorated the quality of their deliberations. The appeal focuses on defence complaints about two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the pandemic. Brady's trial, the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasted 122 court days and concluded with an 11‑to‑one jury verdict. The appellate court heard arguments that the trial judge should have discharged the jury, but the judge had exercised discretion to continue the case. The appeal will proceed the following day before a three‑judge panel.
Aaron Brady, 32, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth. Brady was found guilty in August 2020 by an 11‑to‑one jury at the Central Criminal Court. His appeal, originally scheduled to begin on Tuesday, was adjourned to Wednesday due to a strike by criminal barristers who are campaigning to reverse cuts to legal aid fees. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, granted the adjournment after the Director of Public Prosecutions explained that the entire criminal bar would be unavailable to commence the seven‑day hearing on Tuesday. The appeal will focus mainly on defence complaints regarding two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the Covid‑19 crisis.
Two men have been acquitted of robbery in connection with the 2013 Lordship Credit Union heist in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Following a three-month trial at the Special Criminal Court, judges found insufficient evidence to convict Brendan Treanor of carrying out the robbery itself, though the court noted his association with the criminal gang involved. James Flynn, from South Armagh, was cleared of direct participation in the robbery but convicted of conspiracy to steal the getaway vehicle used in the raid. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that while evidence established both men's involvement with the crime's planning and execution, the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that either was among the four men who entered the credit union car park. Flynn will be sentenced on November 13th. Aaron Brady, separately convicted of Detective Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence and pursuing an appeal. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted James Flynn, an Armagh man, of conspiring with garda killer Aaron Brady to steal a Volkswagen Passat on 22 and 23 January 2013 at locations in County Louth. The vehicle is alleged to have been used in the robbery of Lordship Credit Union near Dundalk two days later, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, found the prosecution case consistent with the conspiracy charge, citing CCTV evidence and communication timings as circumstantial support. Flynn's co-accused, Brendan Treanor, was acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglary, the court determining insufficient evidence for conviction. The judges continue to deliver verdicts on the separate robbery charge against both men, who deny all allegations. Both defendants face charges relating to the €7,000 Lordship robbery and the wider conspiracy involving car thefts between September 2012 and January 2013. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
Verdicts for Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, accused of a robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, will be delivered on 19 September. The Special Criminal Court trial lasted 55 days, with evidence, legal arguments and closing speeches. Both men, aged 34 and 32, deny all charges. They are also charged with conspiring with convicted Garda killer Aaron Brady and others to burgle houses in 2012 and 2013, specifically to steal car keys. The prosecution alleges they were part of a group that broke into houses to steal keys and then quietly leave with the cars. Aaron Brady, 31, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the Lordship robbery, and he denies involvement in the robbery. The judges will provide reasons for their verdicts and have been given the summer break to prepare. The trial concluded today, with the court noting the need for detailed reasoning in its judgments. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty. James Flynn pleaded not guilty.
A barrister for James Flynn has told the Special Criminal Court that the prosecution's case against his client lacks any substantive evidence. Bernard Condon SC argued that there is no proof Mr Flynn was present at Lordship Credit Union during the robbery on 25 January 2013, in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The prosecution's case instead relies on linking Mr Flynn to the theft of a Volkswagen Passat in Clogherhead, County Louth, allegedly used in the robbery. Mr Condon contended that CCTV footage showing the vehicle's movements contained implausible timings and that a farmer's account of blue headlights at the burn site in Armagh did not match Mr Flynn's BMW. He described the evidence regarding the Passat as threadbare and accused the prosecution of relying on weak associations and speculation rather than concrete proof. Mr Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to robbing €7,000 from the credit union and to conspiracy charges. Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Detective Donohoe, is serving a life sentence.
Before the Special Criminal Court on May 17th, 2023, a barrister for Brendan Treanor argued there is insufficient evidence to sustain charges against his client in connection with a 2013 credit union robbery in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Sean Guerin SC submitted that prosecution claims relied on speculation rather than direct evidence, and that no proof existed that Treanor left his home the evening of the robbery. Counsel highlighted inconsistencies in the State's case, including witness testimony that the getaway driver was female, and challenged the feasibility of the timings alleged. Both Treanor and James Flynn (32), from South Armagh, deny charges of robbery and conspiracy to burgle. Aaron Brady is serving a life sentence for the detective's murder and the robbery itself. Closing arguments continue, with the three-judge court to determine the case. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions yesterday in the trial of two men accused of involvement in the fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth in January 2013. Prosecution counsel told the three-judge court that a tattoo allegedly obtained by one of the accused in 2018 constituted an "extraordinary act of hubris". The tattoo, which counsel submitted contains images strikingly coincidental to elements of the Lordship robbery, features a BMW car, armed figures, and a person wearing a balaclava. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, of South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the robbery and to conspiracy to commit residential burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013. Prosecution counsel presented evidence linking phone records and movements of the accused to burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, and Westmeath prior to the robbery. Defence closing speeches are scheduled to follow.
The Special Criminal Court excluded Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the trial of James Flynn and Brendan Treanor after he posted an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The video was deemed "tendentious and offensive" and unrelated to the evidence presented. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that while people may hold opinions, they cannot use their presence in court to publish such allegations. Brady apologized for his remarks and was not found in contempt. The trial, which has been ongoing for over 50 days, involves Flynn (32) and Treanor (34) who are charged with a €7,000 robbery at Lordship Credit Union and conspiracy to break into homes to steal car keys. Both pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, 31, remains in custody on a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery. The case is expected to conclude this week.
A Special Criminal Court has heard that an organised criminal gang comprising at least five members with local knowledge deliberately targeted Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, in the robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The State's closing address, delivered by barrister Lorcan Staines SC on 15 May 2023, relied on circumstantial evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to link the accused men to the attack and a series of related burglaries. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn deny charges of conspiracy to commit creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and of robbing €7,000 from the credit union on 25 January 2013. The prosecution contends the gang possessed detailed local knowledge of the area and prior intelligence about the credit union's operations. Counsel noted coordination indicators such as synchronised phone deactivations before the robbery and evidence of reconnaissance visits. Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for Detective Donohoe's murder, was named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, charged with conspiracy to commit burglaries and a robbery that killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, is set to conclude next week. After the prosecution's case, the defence argued that the common‑law offence of conspiracy no longer exists, citing the Criminal Justice Act 2006, and claimed the charges were vague and unsubstantiated. The court rejected these arguments, holding that the indictment provided sufficient "reasonable information" and that the common‑law offence still stands. The trial, which has lasted 39 days, involves the January 2013 robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union and a separate conspiracy with Aaron Brady to steal car keys from residential premises. Treanor (34) and Flynn (32) have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Brady, already serving a life sentence for Donohoe's murder and the robbery, denies any role in the latter and is appealing his conviction.
The Special Criminal Court admitted a back tattoo as evidence in the case of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, charged with the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, which resulted in the shooting death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The tattoo, featuring guns, bullets, gangsters, money, knuckle dusters and a BMW X5, was described by the prosecution as "almost a glorification" and a "pictorial admission" of Treanor's involvement. Treanor's lawyers argued it was irrelevant, but Mr Justice Tony Hunt ruled that the court would consider it as part of the overall evidence, stating that excluding it would be a failure of logic, reason and common sense. Treanor and Flynn have pleaded not guilty to each charge. The trial continues tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Brendan Treanor, 34, and James Flynn, 32, until after Easter. The men are accused of robbing €7,000 from Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, an incident that resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. They are also charged with conspiring, between 11 September 2012 and 23 January 2013, with convicted Garda‑killer Aaron Brady and others to break into houses to steal car keys. Treanor and Flynn plead not guilty to all charges. Brady, 31, serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the credit union robbery, denies involvement and awaits appeal. After evidence on CCTV‑identified cars, the court noted about 15 days of prosecution material remained. The trial will resume on 18 April before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell.
A witness at the Special Criminal Court was treated as hostile after giving conflicting evidence in the trial of two men charged with a credit union robbery in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Colin Hoey told the court he did not see Aaron Brady or accused James Flynn on the night of the Lordship Credit Union raid in Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. However, his 2017 statement to gardaí at Carrickmacross stated that both men were present in his house between 9.15pm and 10.45pm that evening. Mr Hoey claimed he had been pressured to change his account and alleged a garda had threatened him with imprisonment. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn are charged with robbing €7,000 from the credit union and conspiracy to burgle homes for car keys. Both deny the charges. Brady is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for the garda's murder and the robbery. The trial continues. James Flynn pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 14 March 2023, Charlene O'Callaghan, the former girlfriend of Brendan Treanor, testified that she and Treanor were at home in Tullydonnell, Co. Armagh, on the night of the January 25, 2013 robbery at Lordship Credit Union. She said she arrived home at about 9:15 pm after work, watched television, showered, and then left to order food at a Crossmaglen takeaway at 10:05 pm, returning around 10:17 pm. O'Callaghan confirmed that Treanor was present in the house before she left and that he had dropped his phone into the bath while washing their dogs. She also noted that Treanor's friends included Aaron Brady and James Flynn. The testimony was given while Treanor and Flynn remain charged with the robbery and related conspiracy, having pleaded not guilty. The case continues before the Special Criminal Court.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Brendan Treanor's back tattoo was a "pictorial admission" of his role in the 2013 robbery of a Dundalk credit union where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. The tattoo, photographed by Garda Aidan Hanlon during Treanor's 2021 arrest, shows four men with hats, a woman in a balaclava holding a gun, a BMW car, a pistol, ammunition, and money. The prosecution linked the BMW's registration plate "BOSS BFT" to Treanor's initials, suggesting the tattoo's imagery reflected the robbery. Treanor (34) and James Flynn (32) are charged with the robbery and with conspiracy to break into houses to steal car keys. Both plead not guilty. The court ruled the photographs were taken lawfully, and the trial will continue tomorrow.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Daniel O'Callaghan, a former All-Ireland winner, who was convicted at the Special Criminal Court for his role in a cross-border gang involved in ATM thefts. O'Callaghan, who pleaded not guilty to 16 offences including attempted theft and possession of stolen cash, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in March. His legal team argued that the identification of O'Callaghan by an NSU garda was flawed due to distance and time constraints. However, Mr Justice Birmingham, presiding, rejected this, stating the officer was a reliable witness with a clear view and that DNA evidence supported the identification. The court affirmed the Special Criminal Court's conviction, noting the strength of the evidence. O'Callaghan's co-accused, who pleaded guilty, were also sentenced. Stephen Duffy received four years for possessing stolen cash. Gerard Duffy and Ciaran Duffy were each jailed for seven years and nine months for attempted ATM theft and criminal organisation offences. Niall Finnegan was sentenced to four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for possessing proceeds from the thefts. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the original convictions and sentences.
A former detective garda told the Special Criminal Court how he feared for his life during an armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, on 25 January 2013, when a man pointed a shotgun at his face and threatened to shoot. The officer recounted discovering his colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head following the incident. A credit union volunteer also gave evidence, describing how a robber smashed her car window and demanded money while she heard gunshots outside. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burgle residential premises and to robbing seven thousand euro from the credit union. Aaron Brady, previously convicted of Detective Garda Donohoe's murder, is serving a life sentence with a forty-year minimum term and is appealing his conviction. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
The Special Criminal Court has heard testimony concerning a credit union robbery in County Louth in January 2013 during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. Staff from Lordship Credit Union and Cooley Credit Union in Bellurgan described a coordinated assault as they prepared to transport takings to a bank in Dundalk under Garda escort. The secretary at Lordship reported that three men blocked the exit and forced entry to his vehicle, stealing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques before gunshots rang out. A colleague from Cooley Credit Union, who remained in her car during the incident, witnessed the attack and subsequently discovered the detective wounded nearby. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn face charges of robbery and conspiracy to commit creeper-style burglaries across four counties between September 2012 and January 2013. Both have pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, convicted of Detective Donohoe's murder and serving life with a forty-year minimum, is named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.