Courts / Dublin / Report
Violent criminal guilty of conspiring to pervert course of justice during garda killer's trial
Summary
A violent thug, Dean Byrne, aged 30, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Aaron Brady's murder trial of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Byrne, already serving an 18‑year sentence with four suspended for a 2013 burglary, conspired with Brady to dissuade key witness Daniel Cahill from giving evidence. Byrne attempted to contact Cahill's family and persuaded a former housemate of Cahill's father to pressure Cahill, repeatedly urging him not to testify. He also circulated excerpts of Cahill's statement to a third party. Brady, aged 33, had previously pleaded guilty to sending a video of a witness interview to Gardaí. The court found the conspiracy intended to interfere with the trial and adjourned Byrne's sentencing to 15 July. The hearing for Brady is scheduled for the same date.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Violent criminal guilty of conspiring to pervert course of justice during garda killer's trial. Charges or matters: sending a video of another witness giving a statement to gardai, will have a hearing on the same date; a charge that on a date between February 20 and May 7, 2020, within the State, he video recorded the playing of an interview between Ronan Flynn, a witness at his trial, and An Garda Siochana, thus embarking on a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 15 Adjournment
- April 8, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 22, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 25, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 20 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 7, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-06-14 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sending a video of another witness giving a statement to gardai, will have a hearing on the same date; a charge that on a date between February 20 and May 7, 2020, within the State, he video recorded the playing of an interview between Ronan Flynn, a witness at his trial, and An Garda Siochana, thus embarking on a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Byrne is already serving an 18–year sentence with four suspended for a burglary in 2013 in which he and six others broke into a family home and terrorised the parents and their three daughters, aged eight, six and two.; Mr Justice Paul Burns, presiding, adjourned the sentencing hearing to July 15.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Cabra Park
- Dublin
- New Road
- Crossmaglen
- Armagh
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
Topics
Burglary Stage Sentence Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Garda murderer Brady's 'contempt' for trial with secret recording lands him with increased sentence
- Prisoner who tried to shoot 'Monk's' brother caught with drugs between his legs
- Mountjoy inmate made 'graphic' threats to prison officers
- 'They're not OK, so you can stop saying that': Riad Bouchaker denied that he 'went for the smallest children' in alleged Parnell Square attack
- Riad Bouchaker told gardai he was upset over negative social welfare decision
- Jury views 24cm carving knife recovered from scene of Parnell Sq stabbing
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request