Brady apologises for justice interference but denies alleged admissions

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Aaron Brady pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice during his murder trial. The proceedings were reported on 16 July 2024.

The charge concerned Brady video recording the playing of an interview between trial witness Ronan Flynn and An Garda Siochana, on a date between 20 February and 7 May 2020. The video was uploaded to social media with text accusing Flynn of touting.

At a Special Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 16 July 2024, Brady’s barrister, Michael O’Higgins SC, said Brady accepted that he had acted wrongly and apologised. Counsel asked for leniency and the maximum benefit for his guilty plea.

O’Higgins said Brady maintained that he had made no admissions to Flynn or Daniel Cahill and believed witnesses were under pressure and saying untrue things. He said the circumstances, including Covid lockdowns, provided context but did not justify Brady’s actions.

Flynn had told gardaí that he often heard Brady admit shooting Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Cahill told Brady’s trial that Brady admitted shooting a garda on three occasions. Brady also sent photographs of part of Cahill’s statement to Dean Byrne, who sent statements to others in an attempt to persuade Cahill’s family to stop him giving evidence.

Byrne was found guilty earlier in 2024 of conspiring with Brady to persuade Cahill not to give evidence. His barrister, Padraig Dwyer SC, asked the court not to impose a consecutive sentence, saying there was no suggestion of violence.

Mr Justice Paul Burns said sentences for Brady and Byrne would be delivered on 29 July 2024. Brady was already serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for murdering Donohoe, and a 14-year sentence for the robbery during which Donohoe was killed.