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Witness intimidation accused admits sending photos of statement

Summary

During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 April 2024, Dean Byrne, aged 30, admitted that he had used a mobile phone found in his Mountjoy prison cell to send photographs of Daniel Cahill's statement to a relative of Cahill. Byrne also admitted that he had sent a message to the relative asking him to persuade Cahill not to testify and that he had called Cahill a "rat", "dirtbag" and "filthbag" in an exchange with another man, offering to "do damage" to Cahill. The prosecution alleges that Byrne was part of a campaign of intimidation against witnesses in Aaron Brady's 2020 murder trial. Byrne's admissions, made under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, are said to be significant and could substantially shorten the trial, which was originally estimated to last 14 weeks. The case concerns Byrne's alleged conspiracy with Brady to pervert the course of justice between 8 April 2020 and 22 June 2020. Dean Byrne pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Witness intimidation accused admits sending photos of statement. Charges or matters: the charge that on a date between February 20 and May 7, 2020, within the State, he embarked on a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Convicted

When:

• August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 25, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 20 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 7, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 8, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 22, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2024-04-17 Publication

Why: Dean Byrne (30) from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin is on trial accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial in order to pervert the course of justice between April 8, 2020 and June 22, 2020. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report