Dean Byrne conspiracy trial adjourned for possible verdict

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Dean Byrne was on trial before the Special Criminal Court accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady’s murder trial. The alleged conduct in Mountjoy Prison between 8 April and 22 June 2020 was said to have been intended to pervert the course of justice.

The proceedings were reported on 8 May 2024. In his closing speech that day, prosecuting counsel Lorcan Staines SC alleged that Byrne shared photographs of Cahill’s statement with his relatives as part of the conspiracy. He alleged that Brady provided the photographs to Byrne.

Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC said there was no evidence of an agreement between Byrne and Brady, or that Byrne knew of a campaign of intimidation. He said Byrne had asked that the statement not be shown to Cahill, which could indicate that he did not want to pressure or alarm him. Counsel also disputed the claim that Byrne could only have received the statement from Brady, saying it appeared to have been in circulation for some time.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the case until 29 May 2024, when Brady was due to be sentenced for his role in perverting the course of justice. The judge said the court might have its verdict ready on that date.