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Violent criminal claims he had 'benign' motive for attempted witness interference in garda killer's trial
Summary
In the Court of Appeal, Dean Byrne, aged 31, claimed he had a "benign" motive for attempting to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence in the trial of garda murderer Aaron Brady. Lawyers for Byrne argued that Byrne honestly believed Cahill would give false evidence and that his actions were not intended to pervert the course of justice. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Lorcan Staines SC, countered that Byrne's conduct was an attempt to pervert the course of justice, citing a recorded exchange in which Byrne insulted Cahill. The Court was asked to decide whether any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence constitutes an attempt to pervert the course of justice. Byrne's appeal concerns the conviction and two‑year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring with Brady to dissuade Cahill, a conviction that followed his earlier 18‑year sentence with four years suspended for a 2013 burglary.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Violent criminal claims he had 'benign' motive for attempted witness interference in garda killer's trial. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- April 8, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 22, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 25, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-02-20 Publication
Why: A violent criminal has claimed he had a "benign" motive when he tried to persuade a witness not to give evidence in the trial of a garda murderer and has argued he should not have been found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, with Mr Justice Brian O'Moore and Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, reserved judgment.
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; The court imposed a two-year sentence on Byrne. Byrne was 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 Patrick McCarthy, with Mr Justice Brian O'Moore and Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, reserved judgment.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Special Criminal Court
- Cabra Park
- Dublin
- New Road
- Crossmaglen
- Armagh
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
Topics
Burglary Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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