Courts / Louth / Report

Adrian Donohoe's wife identified his body 90 mins after he was shot dead, trial hears

Date
2020-02-06

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Drogheda

County
Louth

Summary

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.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Adrian Donohoe's wife identified his body 90 mins after he was shot dead, trial hears. Charges or matters: the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth; a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 25, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
January 26, 2013 Other
2020-02-06 Publication

Why: Leona White told Mr Staines that she was driving on the Carlingford to Dundalk Road that night when she heard one loud bang, which she knew was a gunshot because she lives near a gun range. CNI source report

Case subjects

Aaron Brady

Defendant

Charges: the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth; a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty