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Message offered to 'do damage' to key witness at garda murder trial, SCC hears
Summary
During Aaron Brady's 2020 murder trial, a man named Dean Byrne offered to "do damage" to State witness Daniel Cahill, who later testified that Brady admitted shooting Garda Adrian Donohoe. Byrne, who was sharing a landing with Brady, allegedly sent messages to Cahill and to another acquaintance, urging them not to testify and threatening to harm Cahill. The Director of Public Prosecutions charged Byrne with conspiring to prevent Cahill's evidence, a charge that was opened by prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC. Byrne, aged 30, pleaded not guilty and his trial continues. The court heard that Byrne's messages referred to Cahill as a "rat" and that he claimed to have knowledge of Cahill's scheduled testimony, information not publicly available. The prosecution argues that Byrne acted as Brady's agent to pervert the course of justice. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul Burns, Judge Elma Sheehan and Judge Marie Keane. The unnamed accused was acquitted.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Message offered to 'do damage' to key witness at garda murder trial, SCC hears. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted
When:
- January 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 8, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 22, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2020 Other
- June 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-04-11 Publication
Why: Dean Byrne (30) from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin is on trial accused of conspiring to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence in order to pervert the course of justice between April 8, 2020, and June 22, 2020. Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Acquitted
Outcome: Acquitted; Brady had been due to go on trial with Mr Byrne but is now scheduled to be sentenced in May.
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