Courts / Dublin / Report
Criminal who conspired with garda murderer over trial witness loses appeal
Summary
Dean Byrne (32) has lost his appeal against a conviction for conspiring to pervert the course of justice in the trial of garda murderer Aaron Brady. Byrne had attempted to dissuade witness Daniel Cahill from giving evidence by sending his garda statement to a third party. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore dismissed Byrne's appeal, stating that the use of the witness statement was unlawful. Byrne's lawyers had argued that no offence was committed if lawful means were used to dissuade a witness from giving false evidence, but the court found that Byrne had used unlawful means. The Director of Public Prosecutions intends to appeal the leniency of Byrne's two-year sentence. Byrne, who has spent most of his adult life in prison, is no longer in custody but was present for the ruling.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Criminal who conspired with garda murderer over trial witness loses appeal. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- April 8, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 22, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Incident
- January 25, 2013 Incident
- 2025-12-03 Publication
Why: Photo: Collins) A criminal who claimed he had a "benign" motive when he conspired to persuade a witness not to give evidence in the trial of garda murderer Aaron Brady has lost an appeal against his conviction for conspiring to pervert the course of justice. CNI source report
Case subjects
Background Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Dean Byrne (32) now faces the possibility that he will spend more time in prison, as the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to argue before the Court of Appeal that the two-year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court was unduly lenient. After the court dismissed Byrne's appeal, Lorcan Staines SC said the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to appeal the leniency of the sentences imposed on Byrne and Brady for the conspiracy to pervert the course of justice offences.
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Dean Byrne (32) now faces the possibility that he will spend more time in prison, as the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to argue before the Court of Appeal that the two-year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court was unduly lenient. After the court dismissed Byrne's appeal, Lorcan Staines SC said the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to appeal the leniency of the sentences imposed on Byrne and Brady for the conspiracy to pervert the course of justice offences.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Special Criminal Court
- Cabra Park
- Dublin
- New Road
- Crossmaglen
- Armagh
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
Topics
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