Courts / Armagh / Report
Garda detective shot from range of "six to seven feet", ballistic expert says
Summary
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.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Garda detective shot from range of "six to seven feet", ballistic expert says. Charges or matters: the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe (41) 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 Other
- January 22, 2013 Other
- Sunday January 27 Incident
- 2020-02-11 Publication
Why: On Sunday January 27 they went to Cumson Road, off the Chaleybeate Road, in south Armagh because this was an area that had previously been used to dump cars. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe (41) 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
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- New Road
- Crossmaglen
- Armagh
- Lordship Credit Union
- Cumson Road
- Chaleybeate Road
Topics
Stage Trial Theft Violent Crime
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