Courts / Louth / Report

Cross-border gang member who once offered £1m in bail sureties gets legal aid

Summary

James Flynn, a 32‑year‑old former member of a cross‑border crime gang, was granted legal aid to appeal his conviction and eight‑year sentence for conspiring to steal the getaway car used in the 2013 Lordship Credit Union robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Flynn had previously been acquitted of the robbery itself but was found guilty of conspiracy to steal a Volkswagen Passat from a house in Clogherhead, Co. Louth. The Special Criminal Court convicted him of conspiracy, noting that the burglary was part of an organised plan to secure a vehicle for the robbery. Flynn fled Ireland after the crime, was extradited from the UK in 2022, and holds UK and US passports but no Irish passport. Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham approved legal aid for his appeal, following the same basis as the trial court. The case was one of 16 legal‑aid applications heard that day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cross-border gang member who once offered £1m in bail sureties gets legal aid. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• January 25, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 2022 Incident
• 2024-06-28 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal Theft

Related court reports

• NI man refused bail ahead of retrial on Lordship-related robbery charges
• Gardai concerned about potential witness intimidation in Lordship-related trial
• Retrial for man accused of conspiring to steal cars with garda killer Aaron Brady
• DPP wants retrial after conviction for conspiring to steal Det Gda Adrian Donohoe getaway car is overturned
• Conviction for conspiring to steal Det Gda Adrian Donohoe getaway car is overturned
• Gang member only heard of change to Lordship getaway car conspiracy charge after he was convicted of it, appeal hears

Read the original CNI report