Courts / Armagh / Report

Key witness who failed to give evidence at Aaron Brady trial is arrested

Date
2020-10-06

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Armagh

County
Armagh

Summary

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 Hoey, who had previously provided and then withdrawn an alibi for Brady, was issued a bench warrant by Mr Justice Michael White for his non-attendance.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.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Key witness who failed to give evidence at Aaron Brady trial is arrested. Charges or matters: the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on August 11. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

August 11 Incident
October 14 Hearing Or Sentence
January 25, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
April 30, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
October 8 Hearing Or Sentence
October 8, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
January 27, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
March 3, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
March 4 Hearing Or Sentence
March 5, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
November 24 Hearing Or Sentence
2020-10-06 Publication

Case subjects

Aaron Brady

Convicted Person

Charges: the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court on August 11 (Proven)

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; The 29-year-old, with a last address at New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh is expected to be sentenced to the mandatory term for capital murder of life imprisonment with a minimum time served of 40 years on October 14.