Aaron Brady has been sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013. Brady, aged twenty-nine and from New Road in Crossmaglen, County Armagh, was convicted in August following a trial lasting more than six months. Under the Criminal Justice Act 1990, he must serve a minimum of forty years before becoming eligible for parole. Justice Michael White imposed an additional concurrent sentence of fourteen years for robbery in connection with the credit union raid in County Louth, during which seven thousand euros was stolen in fifty-eight seconds. The court heard victim impact statements from Detective Donohoe's family and colleagues. Brady has maintained his innocence despite conviction, with supporters gathering outside the Courts of Criminal Justice to protest the outcome.
Aaron Brady, aged 29 and last resident of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was found guilty of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11‑to‑one jury verdict on 11 August. He is expected to receive the mandatory life sentence for capital murder, with a minimum term of 40 years to be served. Brady also pleaded guilty to a separate robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013, and will be sentenced for that offence separately. On 13 October, special arrangements were made for the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Lorcan Staines SC, on behalf of the DPP, applied for an overflow court; the judge, Mr Justice Michael White, granted the request and scheduled the hearing in Court 17 with a live feed to a second court in the Criminal Courts of Justice.
A 28-year-old man from County Meath has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of James Gately at a Dublin filling station in May 2017. Caolan Smyth has also denied charges of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. A 52-year-old County Louth man, Gary McAreavey, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender by purchasing petrol and helping to burn out the vehicle used in the shooting. The trial, heard before the Special Criminal Court, was told that Mr Gately was shot five times at the Topaz garage on Clonshaugh Road and subsequently underwent surgery. The prosecution's case relies substantially on CCTV evidence tracking the movements of a black Lexus at the scene and at locations connected to the injured party, as well as evidence of the vehicle being found burned out in County Louth approximately one hour later. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
Cornelius Price, a 38‑year‑old former gang boss from Drogheda, has appealed a ruling that upheld the calculation of his release date from Wheatfield Prison. Price was convicted in February 2017 for recklessly endangering life or safety in an incident at Balbriggan Garda station in January 2014, where he drove a van at high speed at Garda Gary Dillane. He served three‑quarters of a three‑year sentence, with a quarter remission, and was released on 18 May 2019. Price argues the Irish Prison Service used days to calculate his release, whereas he believes months should have been used, which would have released him on 17 May 2019, 24 hours earlier. His counsel, Paul Carroll SC, contended the IPS's method was unsatisfactory and not based on statutory provision. The Court of Appeal heard the case on Wednesday, with the High Court having previously dismissed his challenge. The appeal remains pending, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgment.
In October 2020, a 39‑year‑old English businessman appealed the 14‑year prison sentence he received for raping and sexually assaulting two sisters aged 10 and 12 between December 2010 and March 2011. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, lasted 42 days and involved three counts of rape and eight counts of sexual assault. The defendant was sentenced to 14 years, with two years suspended on the condition of participating in the "Better Lives" treatment programme for sex offenders. He maintains his innocence and disputes the jury's verdict. In March 2020, his appeal against conviction on 11 charges was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which rejected claims that the girls' interviews by specialist Gardaí were fundamentally flawed. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Colin Hoey, a key witness in the capital murder trial of Aaron Brady, was arrested for contempt of court after failing to attend proceedings. Brady, 29, was found guilty by an 11-to-1 majority jury at the Central Criminal Court on August 11 of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. He is expected to be sentenced on October 14 to the mandatory term of life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years. Brady was also convicted of involvement in a €7,000 robbery at Lordship Credit Union in 2013. Hoey, who had previously provided and then withdrawn an alibi for Brady, was issued a bench warrant by Mr Justice Michael White for his non-attendance. Hoey presented himself at the Criminal Courts of Justice, where the warrant was executed. The DPP stated the contempt is punishable by imprisonment, a fine, or both. Mr Justice White granted Hoey bail and legal aid for the duration of the contempt proceedings. Bail conditions include a €2,000 bond, surrender of his Irish passport within 24 hours, residing at his partner's parents' home in Dundalk, daily sign-on at Dundalk Garda Station, and maintaining a mobile phone for Garda contact. The judge warned of grave consequences for breaching these conditions. The matter was adjourned to November 24 for submissions regarding the High Court's jurisdiction.
An application to set aside alleged asset transfers involving Michael Colm Murphy, a discharged bankrupt, has been admitted to the fast-track Commercial Court list. The court heard that the transfers were made by Murphy to his former wife Anne Murphy and sister-in-law Rita Hoey. The Deputy Official Assignee Denis Ryan claims the transfers were an attempt to frustrate Murphy's creditors, including 12 family members of the victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing. The Official Assignee, represented by Edward Farrelly SC, alleges that five asset transfers, including property, were made when civil and criminal proceedings were pending against Murphy for his alleged role in the atrocity carried out by the Real IRA. Murphy was cleared of all criminal charges in connection with the bombing, having been previously convicted in 2002, which was later overturned on appeal. In 2013, Murphy was found civilly liable for the bombing along with three other men, and ordered to pay £1.6m in damages to the victims' families. Bankruptcy proceedings were taken against Murphy, Michael McKevitt, and Liam Campbell, who were all adjudicated as bankrupt last year. The transfers, which include Murphy's family home, shares in companies, and land, were made between April 1999 and October 2001. It is also alleged that Murphy transferred £340,000 in cash to a trust for his children, which was used to buy a property in Dundalk. The Official Assignee seeks various orders and declarations, including that the assets be held in trust for the bankruptcy estate. The case was adjourned to a date in November.
Ms Lisa Smith, a 38‑year‑old former Irish Defence Forces member from County Louth, has been scheduled to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court on 11 January 2022. The trial, expected to last 12 weeks, will be presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Sarah Berkeley and James Faughnan. Smith faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for membership of the Islamic State (ISIS) between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named recipient on 6 May 2015. She denies the allegations. The case was previously heard at Dublin District Court in December 2020, where a Section 49 order was made on 31 August 2021 to transfer the matter to the non‑jury court. Smith remains on continuing bail awaiting the trial.
Lisa Smith, a former Irish Defence Forces member aged 38 from County Louth, has been ordered to be tried in the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. She faces charges under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for membership of the Islamic State (ISIS) between 28 October 2015 and 1 December 2019, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of ten years. A second charge, also under the same Act, alleges that she financed terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named recipient on 6 May 2015. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied for a Section 49 order, arguing that ordinary courts were inadequate to secure justice. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Declan Dempsey, granted the application. Smith, who denies the allegations, was not present at the hearing. The case is scheduled for mention before the three‑judge court on 14 September, at which time she must attend.
The article reports that after the conviction of Aaron Brady for the robbery and capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, Deputy Commissioner John Twomey warned Brady's accomplices that Gardaí would pursue them. The Donohoe family expressed gratitude to the jury, prosecution, and investigators, noting the lengthy and complex trial. They thanked the presiding judge, witnesses, and international law‑enforcement partners, especially U.S. Homeland Security. The family reiterated that justice had been served but that nothing could restore Adrian to his loved ones. Chief Superintendent Christopher Mangan highlighted the significance of the verdict and the extensive, transnational investigation that led to the conviction. The article emphasizes the ongoing pursuit of all involved parties and the appreciation for the media's responsible reporting.
Aaron Brady, 29, was found guilty of capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11‑to‑1 jury at the Central Criminal Court. The judge will impose a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. Brady denied the murder and claimed no involvement in the robbery that led to Donohoe's death. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the theft of a Volkswagen Passat used as a getaway car and Brady's alleged statements to Gardaí. Brady's defence argued he was loading diesel waste and had no role in the robbery. The trial, the longest murder case in Irish history, involved 139 witnesses over 28 weeks. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 14 October, where the judge will also consider Brady's robbery conviction. The maximum sentence for robbery is life, with a minimum of 40 years for capital murder.
Aaron Brady, aged 29, was found guilty of robbery in the January 25, 2013, Lordship Credit Union heist that resulted in the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The jury, after 12 hours and 35 minutes of deliberation, reached a unanimous verdict of robbery. Brady denied involvement in the robbery and pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charge. The trial heard that four men entered the credit union car park, and the prosecution alleged Brady fired a single fatal shot. Brady claimed he was at a diesel laundering yard on Concession Road at the time. The judge explained that for a capital murder conviction, it must be proven beyond reasonable doubt that Brady was the shooter and that he knew he was shooting a Garda or was reckless about it. If the jury is not satisfied with the capital murder evidence, they could find him guilty of murder or manslaughter.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to continue deliberations in the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during a 2013 credit union raid. The jury, consisting of five men and seven women, has spent over six hours across three days considering their verdicts, having first heard evidence in January. Mr Justice Michael White formally suspended their deliberations, urging them not to discuss the case or consult social media, and advised them to relax. Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to both the capital murder of Donohoe and a robbery charge involving approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques. The judge instructed the jury to first consider the robbery charge, noting that a not‑guilty verdict on robbery would logically preclude a murder conviction. He explained that if the jury finds Brady guilty of robbery, they must then consider the capital murder charge, which is "tricky" due to multiple possible verdicts.
In the Aaron Brady trial, Mr Justice Michael White warned the jury that the evidence of a woman, Molly Staunton, who claimed Brady admitted shooting a Garda, might be dangerous to rely on. Staunton gave her testimony via video link from New York, during which an unseen man interrupted her twice, once when the jury was not present. The judge noted the man's disruptive behaviour and Staunton's refusal to comply with his demands. White also described Daniel Cahill, a prosecution witness who said Brady admitted killing a Garda on three occasions, as "the most controversial prosecution witness" and suggested Cahill might have motives to fabricate statements. Brady, aged 29, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. The jury, now 12 members, will begin deliberations tomorrow after the judge's final instructions.
Patrick Nevin, a 38‑year‑old serial sex offender, had his 12‑year jail term increased by two and a half years after an appeal by the State. Nevin had attacked three women he met on Tinder in July 2014, raping one in Bellewstown and assaulting two others in County Meath. He had previously been sentenced to five and a half years for a third assault at UCD. The Court of Appeal found the original 14‑year sentence for the rape and eight‑year sentence for the assault too lenient, noting aggravating factors such as the rapid succession of attacks, premeditation, and a prior conviction for threatening to kill a woman. The court substituted a 10‑year sentence for the rape, made the rape and assault sentences consecutive, and suspended the final three and a half years, raising Nevin's net sentence to 14½ years. The probation period remains five years post‑release. Victims and Nevin attended the hearings remotely.
An alleged IRA member, Seamus Marley, aged 46, was convicted of raping two teenage boys in County Louth in the early 1990s. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape after a six‑day trial in May 2019, and Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment. Marley attempted to appeal his conviction outside the 28‑day window normally required after sentencing. His barrister, Michael Bowman SC, applied to the Court of Appeal for an extension, arguing that Marley had misunderstood the timing of his appeal and had been advised to wait until after sentencing. The Court of Appeal, hearing the application on the grounds of delay and the interests of the victims, ruled that there was no reasonable prospect of success and refused the extension, citing the need for finality in criminal proceedings.
Patrick Nevin, aged 38, appealed a 14‑year prison sentence for raping and sexually assaulting three women he met on Tinder in July 2014. The court had suspended the final two years of the sentence. Nevin had previously received five and a half years for a separate Tinder‑related assault on the UCD campus. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cathleen Noctor SC, counter‑appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient and should have been higher, citing aggravating factors such as the rapid succession of attacks, premeditation, driving victims to remote locations, and prior convictions for serious harm. Nevin's counsel, Michael Bowman SC, argued the sentence was appropriate, noting the court had considered aggravating factors and that the 14‑year term was the maximum available. The Court of Appeal was set to decide the case the following day. Patrick Nevin pleaded guilty.
Garda Michael Rochford, a member of two gun clubs and a holder of a .243 calibre Savage Axis II rifle, has filed a High Court challenge against the Revenue Commissioners. He claims that the items he imported – a new rifle stock, a buttpad spacer kit, and two polymer magazines – are firearms accessories that do not require a license under the 1925 Firearms Act. In early April, customs seized the goods, categorising them as firearms. Rochford argues that Revenue misapplied the law and acted beyond its authority, and that the items are not components that alter a firearm's function. He seeks orders to quash the seizure notices, declarations that the items are not subject to forfeiture, and that Revenue erred in interpreting the Act. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission for the judicial review on an ex‑parte basis, with the case adjourned to October.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC told the jury that Brady did not shoot Donohoe and was not involved in the robbery. He argued that if the jury believes Brady was the gunman, they should consider that a warning shot could constitute manslaughter rather than murder. O'Higgins highlighted inconsistencies in witness testimony, questioned the reliability of CCTV evidence, and criticised the Garda investigation for not following up on diesel‑laundering allegations. He urged jurors to assess whether the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that a manslaughter verdict was possible but unusual. The judge acknowledged the possibility of a manslaughter verdict but left the decision to the jury. The case remains at the jury's deliberation stage.
Liam Campbell, 58, who was found civilly liable for the 1998 Omagh bombing, has been granted a date in January to appeal an extradition order that would send him to Lithuania to face charges of international weapons trafficking. The extradition order, issued under a second European Arrest Warrant, was approved by the High Court on 26 June, and Campbell lodged an appeal. The Court of Appeal set the hearing for 19 January, expected to last a full day. Campbell's counsel argued that the wording of an "intention" to put someone on trial by a foreign jurisdiction is not the same as actually putting them on trial, a point the Minister for Justice opposed. The extradition request alleges Campbell organised the smuggling of firearms and explosives for the Real Irish Republican Army between late 2006 and early 2007, with a maximum terrorism sentence of 20 years. The case is now scheduled for the Court of Appeal hearing.
In the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that Daniel Cahill, the key witness in Aaron Brady's murder trial, may have had motives to fabricate his testimony. O'Higgins highlighted Cahill's claims of hearing Brady admit to killing Garda Adrian Donohoe, Cahill's alleged encounters with Homeland Security, and the lack of any subsequent police action against Cahill despite drug findings. He questioned the credibility of Cahill's statements, noting inconsistencies and the absence of corroborating evidence from Garda investigations. O'Higgins also criticized the Garda investigation for allegedly overlooking evidence of diesel laundering linked to Brady, citing text messages and phone contacts. The counsel urged the jury to scrutinise Cahill's testimony and the prosecution's evidence before drawing conclusions. The trial remains ongoing. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Aaron Brady, 29, used the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe as a badge of honour after moving to America, believing he was beyond the law. They described Brady as a skilled liar who repeatedly told false statements to Gardaí and the jury, claiming he was a victim of a Garda campaign. Brady's defence was that he was under financial pressure and that the robbery at Lordship Credit Union was a base criminal motive. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence, including CCTV of a stolen Volkswagen Passat and alleged phone inactivity, to link Brady to the crime. They also highlighted Brady's alleged statements to witnesses and his alibi. The case centred on proving that Brady shot Donohoe knowing he was a Garda, with the prosecution presenting forensic and witness testimony to support this claim. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty.
In July 2019 a 75‑year‑old man was seriously injured when Dean Quigley, aged 23, twice broke into his apartment. The first incident involved Quigley kicking and hitting the door after being refused entry, then entering the flat, taking a knife, and assaulting the victim. The second assault, in October 2019, saw Quigley punch the man in the head, stomach and back, hold him in a headlock and threaten to kill him if he told anyone. The victim, who remained in fear for five days, was found by his daughter and taken to hospital where he suffered a brain bleed, ligature marks on his neck and severe bruising to his chest. Quigley pleaded guilty to trespassing, criminal damage and assault, was remanded in custody and sentencing was adjourned to October 2020 for a probation report.
In the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, the jury will hear the prosecution's closing speech on Friday, almost six months after the trial began. Judge Michael White informed the six men and seven women that the case is entering its final phase, where they will decide the facts. He thanked the jurors for their "exceptional patience and tolerance" and explained that they will hear from the prosecution and defence counsel, after which the judge will explain the law and summarise the evidence. Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to a charge of robbing about €7,000 in cash and cheques on the same day. During the final day of evidence, prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC called Inspector John Moroney to respond to Brady's claim that Moroney had acted out of malice or was mistaken.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 29, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, continued before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Mr Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe, who was on active duty, and the alleged robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques, both occurring on January 25, 2013, at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. US immigration expert Kerry Bretz testified that it is "very unusual" for Homeland Security to take no action against a visa overstayer. He stated that while Homeland Security has discretion, it is "highly unlikely" they would release a detained overstayer to file an application later, a practice he has never encountered in nearly 30 years. The expert noted that officers often use immigration violations as "leverage" to secure cooperation from vulnerable individuals. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC suggested that Homeland Security's assistance to An Garda Síochána in the murder investigation provided ample reason for such discretion. Mr Bretz acknowledged this was possible. The defence evidence continues tomorrow.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, 29, accused of capital murder and robbery, waived solicitor‑client privilege and gave a voluntary statement. His former solicitor, Daniel McNamee, testified that Brady had been advised not to testify if he had any involvement in the robbery and fatal shooting. McNamee explained that a witness statement does not carry the same legal protection as a suspect. Brady had previously told McNamee that he was loading diesel waste at a yard in Cullaville on the evening of the murder, but later claimed the forklift started and he spent 90 minutes to two hours loading diesel. Brady's statements to Gardaí on 5 and 6 February 2013 were voluntary. The trial, before Mr Justice Michael White and a 13‑person jury, continues with Brady pleading not guilty to both the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery of €7,000 in cash and cheques.
Aaron Brady, 29, accused of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe, rejected the prosecution's suggestion that he is a psychopath. During his final day of evidence, Brady denied the claim, stating that the alleged psychopath was Daniel Cahill, who he said had assaulted him and threatened to cut off his toes. Brady maintained that he had never threatened anyone or entered a room to threaten a person. He pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a robbery charge of about €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union. Brady also discussed his alibi submissions, his interactions with Gardaí in February 2018, and his statements about diesel laundering. He denied any admission of murder or other wrongdoing, and the trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of thirteen.
Wayne Lynch, a 37‑year‑old bread delivery man from Drogheda, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for transporting firearms and storing cannabis during an ongoing crime feud. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at a Lidl car park in Tallaght and possession of cannabis herb at his home on 19 July 2019. Lynch had a prior conviction in 2004 for drug possession. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, followed Lynch's bread van on 19 July 2019, seized two black handguns and ammunition from the van and recovered cannabis herb worth €35,606 from his home. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted that Lynch was not a "significant player" and would not have used the guns, but noted he was moving the equipment during an ongoing feud that had claimed many lives. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.
During his Central Criminal Court trial, Aaron Brady, aged 29, denied being able to identify the accents of the robbers from an audio recording taken at the scene of the fatal robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Brady listened to the dashcam audio, which included a shout of "Give me the fucking bag, give me the fucking money," but he said he could not recognise the accents and described the recording as "very blurry." He also denied stealing a car that the prosecution alleged was used in the robbery and rejected a suggestion that a suspect's car had driven by Lordship Credit Union earlier that day as part of a "drive‑by" in advance of the robbery. Brady, who has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery charge, was questioned about his movements on the day of the robbery, his mobile phone activity, and his interactions with other suspects.
During his second day of cross‑examination at the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 29, denied any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe or the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union. He argued that a wealthy suspect, referred to as Suspect A, who owns a house since age 18 and earns a six‑figure income in America, would have no motive to commit armed robbery. Brady denied that he, Suspect A, or a friend stole a Volkswagen Passat in 2013, and said he could not recall a conversation with former girlfriend Jessica King about a car theft. He admitted lying to Gardaí about his movements on the night of the robbery to conceal his diesel‑laundering activities, but insisted he had not provided an alibi for Suspect A. Brady pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and the robbery charge. The trial will continue before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
Aaron Brady, aged 29, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery charge. During his trial he claimed he was a victim of media and Garda scrutiny, saying he was "ganged up" on after lying to Gardaí about his movements. Brady denied any role in the robbery that led to Donohoe's death, insisting his lies were only to conceal involvement in illegal diesel laundering. He admitted the first time the Director of Public Prosecutions learned of his alibi was in December of the previous year. Brady also disputed testimony from witnesses Molly Staunton and Daniel Cahill, calling Cahill a "psychopathic, pathological liar," and accused Sergeant John Moroney of lying. He maintained he was not involved in the shooting and that his statements were truthful under oath. The cross‑examination continued before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.
Liam Campbell, 58, who was found civilly liable for the 1998 Omagh bombing, has been granted leave by the High Court to appeal an extradition order that would surrender him to Lithuania to answer charges of international weapons trafficking. The extradition request is based on a second European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities, the third overall attempt to secure his surrender. Campbell was arrested in Dundalk on 2 December 2016 under the warrant, which alleges he organised the smuggling of firearms and explosives for the Real IRA between late 2006 and early 2007. The High Court, in a judgment delivered electronically on 26 June, confirmed that an order for his surrender may be made and granted him 10 days to file an appeal before the 25‑day surrender deadline. The appeal focuses on a legal question about whether an intention to put someone on trial is the same as actually putting them on trial.
Aaron Brady, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to a robbery of about €7,000 on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Co. Louth. In his first court appearance he denied killing the Garda, denied participation in the robbery, and denied ever admitting to killing the Garda. Brady said he was at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, Co. Armagh, at the time of the shooting and that he had lied to Gardaí about his movements to avoid implicating himself in diesel laundering. He described a prosecution witness, Daniel Cahill, as a "lying psychopath" and claimed Cahill had assaulted him on St. Patrick's Day 2015. Brady also said he had no involvement in stealing a Volkswagen Passat used in the robbery and that he was not at Lordship Credit Union that night. He admitted to lying to Gardaí after the shooting and again ten days later.
Wayne Lynch, 37, a bread delivery man from Newtown Meadows, Drogheda, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at the Lidl Car Park, Tallaght, and possession of cannabis herb at his home on 19 July 2019. He had a previous conviction in 2004 for possession of drugs. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, followed Lynch in his bread van on 19 July 2019, approached the van at the Lidl car park, and searched it, recovering two black handguns and rounds of ammunition under the passenger seat. Lynch was arrested and taken to Crumlin Garda Station. A search of his home yielded cannabis herb valued at €35,606. Lynch claimed he was afraid for his life, had a cocaine habit that worsened after his father's death, and was told to drop off the package for a €1,000 discount.
The prosecution concluded its evidence in the trial of Aaron Brady, who denies murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during a raid on a rural credit union. The trial, which began in January, was delayed by Covid‑19 lockdowns and resumed in May with social‑distancing measures and a reduced jury of 13. Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe, who was on active duty on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth, and also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. On the final day of evidence, Detective Inspector Mark Phillips disclosed a report from the Yonkers Police Department concerning witness Daniel Cahill, who had testified that Brady had told him he shot a Garda on three occasions.
In the Central Criminal Court, Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to the robbery of approximately €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. Brady had earlier submitted an alibi notice claiming he was working at a diesel‑laundering yard on Concession Road, south Armagh, during the robbery. The court heard that Brady had called a known fuel launderer at 19:55 on the night of the robbery, a call that passed through a mast in Northern Ireland, and that Garda investigations found no CCTV evidence of the BMW he claimed to have used. Brady's alibi was not questioned because he is also a suspect in the robbery. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of thirteen.
During the trial of Aaron Brady for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, Judge Michael White warned the jury to treat with caution the testimony of witness Molly Staunton, who gave evidence from her New York apartment via video link. The judge explained that the court had originally intended for her to travel to Dublin, but pandemic restrictions led to the decision to allow remote testimony. He noted that Staunton was not independently supervised and that a basic risk assessment was not carried out. The interruption of her testimony by a friend or boyfriend was described by the judge as "improper and regrettable," and he apologized for the incident. The judge said he would issue a warning to the jury to exercise caution when evaluating Staunton's evidence. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty. Adrian Donohoe pleaded not guilty.
A retired detective inspector giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court rejected claims that the garda investigation into the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was compromised by inadequate follow-up on key leads. The officer, who oversaw part of the inquiry, disputed suggestions of tunnel vision in the investigation. Aaron Brady, aged 28, from New Road, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, County Louth, and to robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques on the same date and location. During cross-examination, the defence counsel questioned why gardai had not pursued certain lines of inquiry relating to alleged fuel laundering activities and phone records showing contact between Mr Brady and known diesel launderers on the day of the shooting. The retired inspector maintained that the murder investigation took precedence and that gardai had properly investigated the capital crime for which Mr Brady stands charged. The trial continues.
John Lawrence, 29, was spared a prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen caravan and driving dangerously in a high‑speed pursuit. The court heard that he had completed an addiction studies programme and was volunteering as a mentor in a prison after‑care programme, a role described as "inspiring" by professionals. Lawrence, from Drogheda, drove a Jeep towing a €12,000 caravan stolen from Hertfordshire, England, at speeds over 140 km/h in a 100 km/h zone, forcing gardaí and the public to avoid collisions. He had prior convictions for theft, deception and traffic offences. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing mitigation, suspended a two‑year prison term on the condition that Lawrence continue his studies and voluntary work with prisoners.
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.
After a 12‑year legal battle, the High Court will order the extradition of Liam Campbell, 58, who was found civilly liable for the Omagh bombing, to Lithuania where he faces international weapons‑trafficking charges. Campbell was arrested in December 2016 under a second European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Lithuanian authorities. The warrant alleges that between late 2006 and early 2007 he organised the smuggling of firearms and explosives for the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA). His legal team has argued that the prolonged delay and potential for inhuman treatment in Lithuanian prisons, particularly the closed Lukiskes facility, constitute an abuse of process. Justice Aileen Donnelly, in her judgment, accepted that the conditions at Lukiskes no longer pose a risk and that the extradition order may be made when Campbell appears in court on 13 July. Campbell has one week to apply for a certificate of appeal from that date.
An alleged IRA member, Seamus Marley, aged 46, was convicted of raping two teenage boys in County Louth in the early 1990s. A Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty on six counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape after a six‑day trial in May 2019, and he was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Marley has now applied to the Court of Appeal for an extension of time to lodge an appeal, arguing that he was unaware of the 28‑day deadline and had misunderstood the need to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. He was held in 23‑hour lock‑up during his initial custody due to severe verbal abuse from other prisoners, who targeted him because of his alleged IRA membership and his conviction as a child rapist. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the application.
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.
Warrants were issued for the arrest of Josh Boylan (21) of Moneymore, Drogheda, Co Louth, and Keith Boylan (25) of Park Heath, Drogheda, Co Meath, who are facing serious charges including false imprisonment. The cases were transferred from Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Prosecutor Garnet Orange SC informed Judge Martin Nolan that the defendants had "gone off the radar" and were believed to be the subject of a threat to their lives, a threat that could be taken seriously. Orange applied for bench warrants to be issued for both men, arguing that they were outside the jurisdiction and that bench warrants were required to commence extradition proceedings. Lily Buckley BL, defending Josh Boylan, acknowledged a genuine threat to his life and stated that his absence from court was due to that threat. Counsel for Keith Boylan also noted that his client had effectively gone into hiding because of the threat.