In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2020, retired Detective Inspector Pat Marry testified that Aaron Brady's account of his whereabouts on the night of 25 January 2013 was false. Marry said he did not believe Brady was at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, Co. Armagh, but that he was at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co. Louth, where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot. Brady, aged 28, had pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to a robbery of about €7,000 at the same location. Marry described the extensive CCTV analysis, phone‑traffic checks and witness statements that led him to conclude Brady's story was "bunkum and lies." The cross‑examination was set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
In the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe, Special Agent Mary Ann Wade of U.S. Homeland Security testified via video link from New York. She denied offering any inducement to Daniel Cahill, an Irish immigrant who had overstayed his visa, in exchange for his testimony. Wade stated she had not promised or offered Cahill anything, and she refused to discuss immigration status or interview techniques. She explained that she was bound by a letter from her employer preventing disclosure of individual immigration status or agency methods. Wade described Cahill's detention, noting officers found a cannabis plant in his home, but later police determined the plant was not illegal. She reiterated that she had not made any promises to Cahill regarding his stay in the U.S. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Brady, aged 28, was arrested in February 2018 on suspicion of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was killed on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co. Louth. The Central Criminal Court heard that Brady denied any confession to the murder, even after a statement by Molly Staunton was played to him. In interviews at Dundalk Garda Station, Brady repeatedly denied involvement and any voluntary confession. He also denied a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques on the same date and location. The prosecution, led by Dean Kelly BL, is expected to finish its case this Friday, with the trial entering its final stages. The case is before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.
A woman from Riverstown, County Sligo, has had her prison sentence increased by the Court of Appeal following a challenge by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The 23-year-old was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of a pedestrian in Dundalk in October 2017. She had thrown a sauce carton into another vehicle, prompting a high-speed chase through the town that resulted in both cars striking a 29-year-old man. The sentencing judge at Dundalk Circuit Court imposed three years imprisonment with two years suspended. The DPP appealed, citing undue leniency. Court President Justice George Birmingham ruled that the original sentencing judge erred in suspending an additional six months beyond what her co-accused received. The Court of Appeal re-sentenced her to three years with eighteen months suspended, requiring her to serve a greater proportion of her sentence than originally ordered. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded guilty.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on active duty, and the alleged robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. Both incidents are alleged to have occurred on January 25, 2013, at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Witness Daniel Cahill, 28, testified from New York, stating he provided evidence to seek justice for Donohoe's family. Cahill denied fears of US detention and alleged that Homeland Security agents searched his home previously while looking for Dean Evans, who was later jailed for life for the murder of Peter Butterly in Co Meath. During cross-examination, Cahill denied assaulting Brady or stealing his telephone in 2015. The prosecution and defence continue to examine the witness's credibility and recollections. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no final verdict or sentence recorded in this report.
During a cross‑examination in a capital murder trial, defence barrister Daniel Cahill, 28, who was giving evidence via video link from New York, denied being a member of the "Ryan Crew" or Dublin Real IRA and insisted he was telling the truth when he said the accused, Aaron Brady, admitted shooting Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on three occasions. Cahill also denied that he gave evidence to avoid deportation from the United States. He admitted being a childhood friend of Vincent Ryan and knowing Dean Evans, who murdered dissident republican Peter Butterly in 2013. Cahill said he had never been involved in criminal activity, had no interest in the Ryan "business", and had distanced himself from Ryan when he saw him wearing a bullet‑proof vest. The judge described the defence's suggestion that Cahill was engaged in Real IRA activity in 2012 as "outrageous" and "unacceptable". Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
The estate of the late Fine Gael Councillor John Bailey secured a temporary High Court injunction to stop Mr Francis Tiernan from spraying poisonous weedkiller on 100 acres of farmland at Castlewarden on the Dublin‑Kildare border. The estate, represented by Darren Lehane BL, claims the land belongs to Mr Bailey and that Mr Tiernan has been trespassing since April. The dispute stems from an incomplete 2006 sale for €4.6 million and a 2013 damages award of €1.2 million against Mr Tiernan. In 2018 Mr Tiernan filed a Lis Pendens but did not pursue it. He has used machinery, burned scrub, and threatened to spray weedkiller, prompting the estate to seek an interim order. The court granted the injunction ex‑parte and adjourned the case to early July. The estate also intends to pursue further orders restraining Mr Tiernan and seeking damages for trespass. The injunction was issued by Mr Justice Michael Quinn.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. Daniel Cahill, a bartender from New York, testified via video link that Brady repeatedly claimed he had shot a Garda during a bar fight in 2013. Cahill described three occasions where Brady, while heavily intoxicated, spoke of having killed a Garda, referencing a robbery gone wrong. Brady's statements included threats to kill others and claims of being known for having used a gun. The testimony highlighted Brady's alleged admission of shooting a Garda, but no verdict or sentencing was reported in the article. The case remains at the trial stage with a 13‑person jury hearing the evidence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is appealing a sentence imposed on a Louth woman convicted of dangerous driving causing death. Eimear White pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court to causing the death of a pedestrian on the Old Newry Road in October 2017. Judge James McCourt sentenced White to three years imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The DPP has challenged the sentence as unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for 26th June, at which counsel indicated that relatives of the deceased wish to attend and that CCTV footage will be presented. The case concerns an incident in which a man was struck after exiting a taxi at Dowdallshill.
During the second day of evidence in the trial of Aaron Brady, a 28‑year‑old accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013, witness Molly Staunton, 24, was interrupted while giving testimony by a male voice over her video link from New York. The voice told her to stop and not testify. The feed was cut off, but the jury was asked to leave and then return. Staunton later confirmed that Brady had said he wanted to be a good father and that he had told her he killed a cop, a statement she had made to Gardaí in 2017. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and a robbery charge. Justice Michael White instructed the jury to return on Tuesday afternoon.
The High Court ordered the extradition of Ronan Hughes, 40, to the United Kingdom to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Mr Justice Paul Burns rejected Hughes' objection that the alleged offences occurred outside UK territory, ruling that the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals occurred within UK territorial waters and that the conspiracy was furthered in the UK. Hughes, from Co Monaghan, is alleged to be the ringleader of an organised crime group that trafficked the migrants. The court ordered his surrender to take effect on June 15, 2020, following a request by Counsel for the Minister for Justice to shorten the usual 15-day period. Hughes was remanded in custody for not more than 15 days. This decision follows his arrest in April 2020 under a European Arrest Warrant. The source text also references a separate Court of Appeal case involving Eamon Ronald Harrison, where judgment was reserved on charges of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, and Maurice Robinson, who pleaded guilty to similar charges. However, the primary focus of this report is the High Court's finalisation of Hughes' extradition.
A witness testified at the Central Criminal Court that Aaron Brady, the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, admitted to killing someone and stated he carried "the guilt of having murdered a cop in Ireland". Molly Staunton, giving evidence via video link from New York, told the court that in July 2016 Brady lived in an apartment there with her then boyfriend and another man. She recalled an evening when Brady emerged from his bedroom appearing distressed and intoxicated, claiming he had shot a police officer in Ireland and feared gardaí would come to the apartment. Brady, aged 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The trial, before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues.
In a trial that began in January, Mr Justice Michael White apologized to a jury of six men and seven women for delays caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic and other legal matters. He explained that the jury need not attend until 8 June, while the court addressed issues in their absence, and that the trial is expected to continue until the end of June, though he noted it is hard to predict. Mr White also informed the jury that witnesses from America would testify, with court sittings scheduled at 2 pm to accommodate the time difference. The case concerns Aaron Brady, 28, who has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000. The jury heard testimony from a female witness who observed Brady on the day of the shooting and from Sgt John Barnes, who described a search of Brady's home. The trial continues.
During the trial of Aaron Brady, a car‑identification expert, Andy Wooller, testified that a BMW belonging to Brady matches a vehicle seen on CCTV footage of the robbery that led to the shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Wooller, employed by An Garda Síochána to examine the footage, identified a BMW 5‑Series E60 from a recording taken outside Sharkey's Bar in Clogherhead on 23 January 2013, three nights before the robbery. He noted that the suspect's car had a roof wrap that reflected light differently from the rest of the body, a detail he used to confirm the match. Wooller also identified a dark‑toned Volkswagen Passat V6 at the robbery site, distinguishing it from other models by its rear‑light shape. The evidence was presented to the court without bias, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of thirteen. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was on active duty, and to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. Both alleged offences are said to have occurred on January 25, 2013, at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC called Matt Cass of Acuity Forensics, who testified via video link that his company specialises in impartial image analysis and vehicle identification. Cass explained that his colleague, Andy Wooller, conducted a "blind analysis" of CCTV footage from the night of the shooting and from two nights prior, without receiving background information from gardai to prevent bias. Wooller identified potential vehicles, including BMW 5-Series models, Volkswagen Passats, and a Peugeot 508. Detective Garda Garreth Kenna presented original CCTV footage alongside reconstructed versions using these identified vehicles to assist the jury in comparison. The prosecution alleges a Volkswagen Passat used in the robbery was stolen from Clogherhead, Co Louth, prior to the incident. The matter remains at the trial stage and continues.
In the trial of Aaron Brady, a 28‑year‑old from Crossmaglen, the jury was shown a frame‑by‑frame analysis of CCTV footage by Garda witness Garreth Kenna. Kenna testified that a car belonging to a friend of Brady, suspected in the credit‑union robbery that led to the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, passed the scene with its passenger‑side front window open. Defence counsel Fiona Murphy challenged the claim, arguing the footage did not show an open window and that the appearance might be a trick of light. Under re‑examination, Kenna reiterated that the colour and tone of the front and back passenger windows differed as the car drove past Lordship Credit Union less than eight hours before Donohoe was shot. Brady pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery of about €7,000.
In a trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, Judge Michael White requested the High Court president extend daily sittings beyond the usual two‑hour limit due to Covid‑19 concerns. He informed the jury that a direction had been received preventing the trial from exceeding two hours per day, and he is awaiting approval for an extension. The jury, consisting of six men and seven women, heard cross‑examination of Detective Garda Gareth Kenna, who presented a CCTV montage of vehicles in County Louth around the time of the robbery and shooting. Kenna explained that the montage included footage of a Volkswagen Polo stolen from Clogherhead and a dark‑toned saloon resembling a 5‑Series BMW with fog lights. He clarified that fog lights are common and that a distinct roof texture is not unique. The trial continues under Judge White. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Aaron Brady, charged with the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, may have to shorten its daily hearings because of new Covid‑19 health advice. Judge Michael White told the jury that hearings could be limited due to the pandemic and would update them the following day. The change follows advice from microbiologist Professor Martin Cormican, who warned that anyone present at a hearing lasting two hours or more could be considered a Covid contact if they develop the virus within two days, requiring 14 days of self‑isolation. The courts service has requested urgent further advice on the matter. Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a robbery of about €7,000 at the Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. The trial continues.
During the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe, mobile phone analyst Edward McGoey testified that he was not informed of Brady's claim that he was laundering diesel on the night of the murder. McGoey explained that he was only given phone numbers and asked to analyse contacts at relevant times, without knowledge of any fuel‑laundering allegations. He also was unaware of links between five men known to Brady and diesel laundering. Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a robbery of €7,000 from Pat Bellew on the same day. McGoey spent five days presenting phone‑contact evidence between Brady, two robbery suspects, and a brother of one suspect. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins used the evidence to illustrate the investigation's focus on phone contacts, noting that Brady had claimed to be at a diesel‑laundering site in south Armagh that evening.
In an appeal regarding the Essex migrant deaths, the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on Eamon Ronald Harrison's challenge to his extradition warrant. Harrison, of Mayobridge, Co Down, is alleged to have delivered the trailer containing the 39 deceased migrants to a Belgian port. He faces 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Separately, Maurice Robinson, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted to 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, specifically cash, while denying a further charge of transferring criminal property. Robinson awaits sentencing. Meanwhile, Ronan Hughes, a Monaghan haulier alleged to be the ringleader, is fighting his proposed extradition in the High Court. Counsel for the Minister for Justice dismissed arguments that the offences were extraterritorial, describing the submission as a "red herring" and asserting the crimes occurred within UK territory. Hughes, who faces 39 manslaughter charges and one conspiracy count, was remanded in custody until June 12 for a judgment. The State argued that the UK clearly asserted jurisdiction over acts committed within its borders, including the conspiracy and the deaths of the migrants.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael White warned the jury not to consult social media and to focus solely on the evidence presented in court. The case concerns Aaron Brady, 29, who has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to the robbery of approximately €7,000 from Mr Pat Bellew on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Prosecutors presented CCTV footage and mobile phone data linking Brady and two suspected accomplices. The data showed no outgoing calls from Brady's phone between 20:01 and 22:45 that evening, and a marked increase in call activity on 26 January. The trial continues with a jury of six men and seven women hearing the evidence presented by prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC.
In the trial of Aaron Brady, a 28‑year‑old from Crossmaglen, the Central Criminal Court heard that a BMW 5‑Series belonging to one of the suspects passed Lordship Credit Union less than eight hours before the robbery and fatal shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Detective Garda Gareth Kenna told counsel that the suspect's face was visible through the open front passenger window at 1.46 pm, and that seconds later the vehicle was seen on CCTV with the window closed. The robbery took place at about 9.30 pm on 25 January 2013, when Brady pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe, who was 41 and on active duty, and to the robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in the extradition appeal of Eamon Ronald Harrison, who is alleged to have delivered the trailer in which 39 migrants died in Essex. Harrison's legal team argued the European Arrest Warrant was "wholly unsatisfactory" and lacked precise details regarding the time, place, and his specific involvement. Conversely, counsel for the Minister for Justice contended the warrant was validly issued by the Issuing Judicial Authority and contained sufficient detail. The court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, remanded Harrison in custody pending the decision. In related proceedings, Ronan Hughes, alleged to be the ringleader of the trafficking group, was refused bail by the High Court ahead of his extradition hearing. He faces 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Meanwhile, Maurice Robinson, who admitted 39 counts of manslaughter, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, while denying a charge of transferring criminal property. He awaits sentencing. Four other men are scheduled to stand trial at the Old Bailey in October.
At the Central Criminal Court, jurors have viewed CCTV footage documenting events preceding a fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth. Detective Garda Gareth Kenna testified regarding surveillance material from January 2013, depicting a BMW 5-Series at a service station near the border, with subsequent footage tracking a similar vehicle southward through County Louth locations including Monasterboice and Clogherhead. A Volkswagen Passat stolen from the Clogherhead area was later discovered burned out in Armagh. Aaron Brady, aged 28 from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013, and to robbery of approximately €7,000 and cheques from the credit union on the same date. The court also heard evidence concerning fuel laundering activity in the Armagh area, where a witness reported pursuing a white Transit van dumping diesel waste near Castleblayney in 2012. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
The trial of Aaron Brady, who denies the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, resumed after a nine‑week break. The jury, now six men and seven women, viewed CCTV footage of a car's movements three nights before the January 2013 robbery that killed Donohoe. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a charge of robbing about €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The court addressed Covid‑19 precautions, allowing remote viewing and limiting courtroom numbers. Brendan Grehan SC outlined that evidence from May 18 will include witnesses in New York via live video. Edward McGoey, a civilian crime analyst, testified about phone records, while Detective Garda Gareth Kenna presented CCTV montages showing a dark‑toned saloon car near the crime scene. The trial continues under Mr Justice Michael White.
The Court of Appeal granted leave to appeal to Eamon Ronald Harrison, who is pending extradition to the UK to face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. UK authorities have withdrawn a separate charge of conspiracy to commit human trafficking against Harrison, which is expected to shorten his appeal hearing scheduled for May 7. In a related development, Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in London. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, while denying a further charge of transferring criminal property. Robinson will be sentenced at a later date. These proceedings follow the discovery of 39 migrants dead in a lorry container in Essex. Ronan Hughes, alleged to be the ringleader, was refused bail by the High Court and remanded in custody until May 15 for his full extradition hearing. The court found him a probable flight risk, noting his international haulage business and access to funds. The High Court judge stated that the prosecution met the burden of proof regarding the risk of absconding, despite Hughes' ties to the jurisdiction.
A Monaghan man, Ronan Hughes, is alleged to be the 'ringleader' and 'chief organiser' of an organised criminal group involved in the trafficking of 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead in a lorry container in Essex in October 2019. The High Court heard that Hughes is alleged to have organised, paid for the travel, and controlled the drivers who collected the migrants. Evidence presented during the bail hearing included the freezing of €200,000 in 33 bank accounts linked to Hughes and his family, as well as the seizure of a 2019 BMW X5 valued at €108,000. Mr Justice Paul Burns will deliver a decision tomorrow on whether Hughes will be granted bail ahead of his extradition hearing. Hughes, who is wanted by UK authorities on 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, was arrested in Co Monaghan following the endorsement of a European Arrest Warrant. Maurice Robinson, Hughes' younger brother, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. The case is currently at the appeal stage, with no finalisation of the matter yet.
The Court of Appeal heard that UK authorities have withdrawn a human trafficking charge against Eamon Ronald Harrison, a Northern Irishman facing extradition for 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Harrison, who is challenging his pending extradition, was alleged to have delivered the trailer in which 39 migrants died in Essex. The withdrawal of the trafficking charge will shorten his appeal hearing, scheduled for May 7. In related proceedings, Maurice Robinson, of Craigavon, Co Armagh, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, specifically cash, while denying a further charge of transferring criminal property. Robinson will be sentenced at a later date. Additionally, Ronan Hughes, of Co Monaghan, appeared before the High Court in Dublin, where he is wanted by UK authorities for 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. His extradition hearing is set for May 1, with a provisional bail hearing fixed for April 29. Four other men are scheduled to stand trial at the Old Bailey on October 5 in connection with the investigation.
A Monaghan man, Ronan Hughes, has appeared before the High Court in Dublin as part of an ongoing appeal related to his alleged involvement in the Essex migrant tragedy. Hughes, who is wanted in the UK on 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, admitted to the charges during the hearing. He was remanded in custody until a later date. Maurice Robinson, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey and will be sentenced at a later date. The case is currently in the appeal stage, with the court provisionally fixing April 29 for a bail application and May 1 for the full extradition hearing. The matter was adjourned and not finalised. The court heard that the sealed refrigeration unit was not turned on, leading to the deaths of 39 migrants due to oxygen starvation. Four other men are set to stand trial at the Old Bailey in connection with the investigation.
Eamon Harrison, a 22-year-old from Mayobridge, Co Down, has secured a date to appeal his pending extradition to the UK. The Court of Appeal fixed May 7 for the hearing of his legal challenge, which was granted on grounds that the case raised issues in law. Harrison is wanted to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and conspiracy to commit human trafficking. He is alleged to have delivered the refrigerated trailer in which 39 migrants were found dead in Essex on October 23, 2019. The High Court previously ordered his extradition in January, noting allegations that he was involved in transporting illegal migrants on two prior occasions in October 2019, using the same trailer for the fatal journey. The judge also cited allegations that Harrison was stopped in France in 2018 driving a trailer containing 18 Vietnamese migrants. While the source text mentions Maurice Robinson, a 25-year-old from Craigavon, Co Armagh, who was arrested at the scene and admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property, the validated procedural stage for this report is the appeal concerning Harrison. Harrison was not present in court for the case management procedure. The matter remains at the appeal stage, with the hearing scheduled for May 7.
In 2011, two armed men robbed Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth, taking €22,500 in cash and €35,000 in cheques from a bag left by volunteer chairman John Kenwright. The robbers, who drove a car with yellow Northern Irish plates, used a sawn‑off shotgun and a firearm to threaten Kenwright and smash his car's passenger side window. They fled within 23 seconds. In 2013, Aaron Brady (29) pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41), who was to escort Kenwright to an AIB bank in Dundalk. Brady also pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge for the same day and location. The Central Criminal Court heard the details, noting that Donohoe was scheduled to escort Kenwright and that the robbery car was later found burnt out near the border. The case was presented to a jury of seven men and seven women, with legal matters to be addressed in the defendant's absence.
Gardai responded to a 999 call at 4.38 am on 21 January 2013, reporting a suspicious male at a house linked to Aaron Brady, the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The occupants of the house, belonging to Brady's best friend's parents, claimed three men in black were in the yard. Gardai found no intruders, no footprints on wet grass, no damage to a lorry container lock, and no vehicles nearby. The report was made four days before Donohoe's shooting. Brady (29) from Crossmaglen has pleaded not guilty to Donohoe's capital murder and to a robbery of about €7,000 on the same date and location. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael White with a 14‑person jury.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 29, denies the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. He allegedly told his girlfriend, Jessica King, to "tell the truth" after she initially withheld his whereabouts on the night of the shooting. King said Brady had been on bail and under curfew, and she feared implicating him. Brady reportedly instructed her to correct the times he had spent at her home. King described Brady as "messy" and "cheeky," noting he was "smiling and joking." She recounted that Brady had been at her house around 11 pm and left around 2:30 am, and that he had told her to change the recorded times. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a related robbery charge. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of fourteen.
A witness in the trial of Aaron Brady at the Central Criminal Court has testified that she initially provided false information to police about the accused's whereabouts on the night of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's fatal shooting. Jade Fitzpatrick told the court she was pressured into claiming Mr Brady, from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, had left a house in Armagh by 21:30 on 25 January 2013, when he had actually remained there until approximately 3am. Ms Fitzpatrick said she corrected her statement the following day because she wished to help Mr Brady comply with curfew conditions imposed as part of his bail. Under cross-examination, she confirmed Mr Brady appeared relaxed and exhibited no unusual behaviour during his time at the residence. Mr Brady, aged 29, denies capital murder in relation to Detective Garda Donohoe's death at Lordship Credit Union, County Louth, shortly before 9:30pm that evening. He also denies robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location and date. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
In the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, the court heard that about ten text messages were deleted from his girlfriend Jessica King's phone in the hours surrounding the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on 25 January 2013. One deleted message, sent the afternoon after the shooting, read, "Please Jess, I just want to get away til this blows over." Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a robbery charge involving roughly €7,000. Sergeant Karen Coughlan presented 156 relevant pieces of evidence extracted from King's phone using Cellebrite, including exchanges with a contact named AaronX and another called Brades2. The messages revealed a heated argument the night before the shooting, Brady's attempts to contact King after the incident, and a series of deleted texts that were later recovered. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the father of suspect Mr Brady, aged 29, was described by retired detective inspector Pat Marry as "semi‑angry" when he arrived at a Garda station to inquire about the seizure of his car. Marry explained that the vehicle had been taken because it was seen driving at speed away from the scene after the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. The car was seized in March 2013 by a Garda in Castlebellingham and later taken to Dundalk Garda Station. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, continues with a jury of eight men and seven women.
The trial of Aaron Brady, accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and robbing approximately €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013, continued before Mr Justice Michael White. Mr Brady, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Detective Inspector Mark Phillips of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified regarding the investigation, noting that Mr Brady was deported from the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to criminal damage, unlawful taking of a car, and dangerous driving. The jury heard that police did not search a yard in Armagh where Mr Brady claimed to have been laundering diesel on the night of the shooting, a decision attributed to the Senior Investigating Officer. Mr Phillips stated that Mr Brady was initially a witness and that his alibi placing him at Lough Road was corroborated by three individuals. The prosecution highlighted the scale of the investigation, citing one million pages of materials, 40,000 hours of CCTV, and over 3,000 statements. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins questioned the timing of additional evidence notices. The trial is ongoing, with the matter adjourned.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Aaron Brady, 29, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continued before Justice White. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41) and the alleged robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Detective Inspector Mark Phillips testified regarding text messages sent by Mr Brady to his then-girlfriend, Jessica King, on the day of the incident. Mr Brady allegedly stated he was "loading the lorry" at 19:54, approximately 90 minutes before the shooting. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted discrepancies between Mr Brady's account to gardai, who claimed he was in the yard for only 10 to 15 minutes, and the texts suggesting a longer duration. Mr O'Higgins also noted that the diesel laundering yard in south Armagh, where Mr Brady claimed to be working, was not searched by the PSNI. Inspector Phillips stated he did not recall suggesting a search and could not explain why it did not occur. The court adjourned the matter, with the jury instructed to return the following day.
Businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr was refused permission to vary his bail to travel to Spain for his mother's 75th birthday. Mr Justice Paul Coffey at the Special Criminal Court denied the application, noting that the celebration could have been held within the jurisdiction and criticizing the timing of the booking changes after Mansfield had surrendered his passport. Mansfield, of Saggart, Co Dublin, is charged with conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between January 1 and June 30, 2015, and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. His trial is scheduled for April 20. The court noted that Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy, who are alleged to have conspired with Mansfield, have already pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault charges related to the same incident. O'Hare was sentenced to ten years in prison, with three years suspended, for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche in Saggart on June 9, 2015. Duffy was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, on the same date. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offences and the proximity of the trial date in refusing the bail variation.
At the Central Criminal Court, a man accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has claimed he was engaged in diesel laundering at the time of the fatal shooting. Aaron Brady, aged 29, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, denies the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, who was shot at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth on 25 January 2013. He also denies robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location. An alibi notice submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions states that Brady was loading diesel waste at a yard on Concession Road in Cullaville, Co Armagh, for between 90 minutes and two hours around the time of the shooting. Brady told gardaí previously that he had initially provided an inaccurate account of his movements owing to concerns about incriminating himself in diesel laundering activities. The trial, before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
Aaron Brady, a 29‑year‑old labourer from New Road, Crossmaglen, denied involvement in the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot during an armed credit union robbery on 25 January 2013. Brady appeared at Dundalk Garda Station on 5 and 6 February 2013 to give a voluntary statement, describing his movements before and after the shooting. He admitted that he had previously lied to a Garda about his whereabouts on the evening of the shooting, claiming he did not think the Garda would investigate deeply. Brady said he first learned of the robbery from an RTE news report. He pleaded not guilty to both the capital murder charge and the charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women.
At the Central Criminal Court, evidence emerged that Aaron Brady was subject to bail conditions and a curfew when Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth. Mr Brady, aged 29 and from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from the same location on the same date. Inspector Mark Phillips told the court that Mr Brady attended Dundalk Garda Station on 5 February 2013 to provide a voluntary statement. The accused outlined his background and movements in the days preceding the detective's death. A wildlife ranger also testified that he discovered a burned-out car on Cumsons Road in south Armagh on 26 January 2013, the day after the shooting. The trial before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury continues at the Central Criminal Court.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, and to a robbery charge. Brady admitted that the first account he gave to Gardaí after the shooting was untrue, claiming he did not think they would investigate it thoroughly. He explained that he had been with a BMW driver the day after the incident, traveling around the area, eating at a local restaurant, and staying at his girlfriend's house until 3 a.m. Brady said he was unaware of the shooting until that morning. Inspector John Moroney noted inconsistencies between Brady's statements and those of the driver, and that Brady's initial account was contradicted by the driver's version. The jury heard testimony from Garda Finbar Gurhy and Garda David Byrne about the BMW's movements, and the trial proceeded before Mr Justice Michael White and a 15‑person jury.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Edward Connolly reported that forensic tests on numerous items from the scene of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's fatal shooting found no DNA linking Aaron Brady, the accused, to the crime. Samples examined included swabs from cars, a hammer, cigarette butts, a handbag, car keys, chewing gum, gloves, a €2 coin, a shotgun cartridge, CDs, a plastic wallet, a Tayto crisp packet, a cable tie, a Starburst wrapper and a popcorn packet. Three unknown male DNA profiles were generated but matched no individuals in the national database; other profiles matched Garda or witnesses present. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a robbery charge at the same location and time. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of 15.
In the Central Criminal Court, a ballistics expert testified that the fatal shot that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fired from a distance of six to seven feet. The expert, Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell, demonstrated a semi‑automatic Beretta A301 12‑gauge shotgun similar to the weapon used, and compared impact patterns on targets with the wound on Donohoe's right eye. He measured a 60‑mm diameter impact at the same range, concluding the shooter was within six to seven feet of the muzzle. The cartridge found at the scene was a 12‑gauge round from a Spanish manufacturer, containing about 250 lead pellets, with 90 pellets recovered from Donohoe's body. The testimony was presented to a jury of seven women and eight men, with the trial proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White. The accused, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and robbery charges.
During the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, witness Frances Malone testified that she recognised a speeding car on the night of the Lordship Credit Union robbery. She was driving home with her husband after 9 pm on 25 January 2013 when she saw two cars approaching her very fast near the Ballymascanlon roundabout. Both had their headlights on and she could not identify their make or licence plates. About five minutes later she saw another car, also very fast, belonging to a man she knows in his 60s; the car's personalised number plate was familiar to her. Malone said the owner was "in an awful hurry" and wondered if the cars she saw were connected to the shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, the case of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's murder was heard. Inspector Darren Kirwan testified that he discovered Donohoe had been shot at 21.45 on 25 January 2013 and immediately went to the deceased's home to inform his wife, Caroline Donohoe, who identified his body in the credit union car park at 11pm. Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery of about €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Dr Khalid Jaber performed a post‑mortem, finding extensive brain and skull damage and a penetrating shotgun wound to the face as the cause of death. Witnesses, including Leona White, Christina Birch, and Garda Rachel Copperthwaite, described hearing gunshots, seeing a robbery, and finding Donohoe's body. The trial continued on Monday before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
At the Central Criminal Court, a credit union volunteer described the moment she feared for her life during a fatal armed robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, on 25 January 2013. Bernadette McShane told the court she witnessed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe fall after hearing gunshots and subsequently believed an armed raider approaching her vehicle intended to kill her because she had seen the incident. Aaron Brady, aged 28, from New Road, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques on the same date and location. Ms McShane said the raider smashed her car window and demanded money before fleeing the scene. Additional witnesses, including staff from Cooley and Lordship credit unions, detailed their observations of the incident and the armed men involved. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
A former detective garda testified at the Central Criminal Court that he feared for his life when armed raiders confronted him and his colleague during a credit union escort at Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. The witness described how one raider pointed a shotgun at him and made threats, while another held a handgun. He stated that Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot during the incident. Aaron Brady, aged 28 from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from Lordship Credit Union on the same date and location. The witness, who has served as a garda since 1992, detailed the sequence of events and provided descriptions of the raiders' appearance and accents. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues.
In a capital murder trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of the moment Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead in the car park of Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. The footage shows a vehicle blocking the exit while four men emerge, one carrying a shotgun that appears to recoil. The prosecution argues Donohoe died from a single shotgun blast. Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The evidence also includes testimony from credit union employees who counted the stolen money, totalling €27,375, and a dashcam view from a Mazda. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women.