Courts / Louth / Report
Garda killer still maintains witnesses gave untrue evidence against him
Summary
Aaron Brady, aged 33, admits that his attempt to pervert the course of justice during his trial was wrong but maintains that witnesses gave untrue evidence against him. He was convicted in 2013 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe during a robbery and is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. In 2020 he pleaded guilty to recording a witness interview and sending photographs to a prison colleague in an effort to influence testimony. Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the witnesses were under pressure during the COVID lockdowns and that Brady's actions were a serious error of judgment, not a justification. The court was asked to consider leniency and to allow the maximum benefit for Brady's guilty plea. Brady's perverting‑justice sentence cannot run consecutively to his life sentence, but the DPP seeks it to run consecutively to his 14‑year robbery sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Garda killer still maintains witnesses gave untrue evidence against him. Charges or matters: 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:
- August 2020 Incident
- January 25, 2013 Incident
- February 20 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 7, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 8, 2020 Incident
- June 22, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-07-16 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: 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; Brady is already serving a life sentence with a minimum time served of 40 years for murdering Det Gda Donohoe. While the sentence for perverting the course of justice cannot be consecutive to that life sentence, Diarmuid Collins BL for the DPP said it should run consecutively to Brady's 14-year sentence for the robbery during which Brady shot and killed Det Gda Donohoe.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- New Road
- Crossmaglen
- Armagh
- Cabra Park
- Dublin
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
Topics
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