Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7426Murder

Aaron Brady appeals murder conviction over withheld US agent recording

On January 25th, 2013, Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead after a five-man gang ambushed him during a cash escort at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth, and €7,000 was stolen. Aaron Brady (32) was arrested in the US in 2017 for being in the country illegally, and in August 2020 he was found guilty of murder by an 11-to-one majority jury at the Central Criminal Court, then sentenced to life with a 40-year minimum. In October 2023 Brady began a six-day Court of Appeal hearing against that conviction, with the defence arguing late disclosure and the wrongful exclusion of a covert recording, while the DPP says the tape was not relevant. The appeal, heard before a three-judge court, was on its third day on October 6th, 2023, and continues before Mr Justice John Edwards, though one report says the next day and another says the following Monday.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court5 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was ambushed by a five-man gang while on a cash escort and shot dead.
  • The raiders stole €7,000 in cash during the robbery.
Where
The killing took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth.
When
Det Garda Donohoe was murdered on January 25th, 2013.
Other details
  • Brady was arrested in the US in 2017 for being in the country illegally.
  • The defence says the recording shows a US agent coercing a suspect to put Brady in the frame for murder, while counsel for the DPP said the tape did not have the relevance the defence contended.
In court
  • Brady was found guilty of murder by an 11-to-one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020.
  • Brady is appealing his murder conviction in a six-day Court of Appeal hearing before a three-judge court.
  • The defence says documentation limiting the evidence of US agents was not disclosed to it until five months into the trial.
  • The DPP said letters of scope were disclosed to the defence in May 2020, while the defence argues they were not disclosed in a timely fashion.
  • Trial judge Mr Justice Michael White refused to allow a covert recording to be played to the jury, and the defence argues this was an error.
Sentence
  • Brady was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 40-year minimum for the murder.
  • Brady was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, to run concurrently with the life sentence.
Investigation
The recording was made covertly by Suspect A and captures a conversation with US special agent Matt Katske of the US Department of Homeland Security.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBrady is appealing his murder conviction in a six-day Court of Appeal hearing. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDet Gda Donohoe was ambushed by a five-man gang while on a cash escort and shot dead. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe raiders stole €7,000 in cash during the robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenDet Gda Donohoe was murdered on January 25th, 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe recording is of a conversation between Suspect A and US special agent Matt Katske of the US Department of Homeland Security. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDocumentation was not disclosed to the defence until five months into the trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence argues the prosecution failed to disclose letters of scope in a timely fashion. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP said the letters of scope were disclosed to the defence in May 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBrady was found guilty of murder by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe appeal continues the next day before Mr Justice John Edwards. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBrady is seeking to overturn his conviction before the Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing is before a three-judge appeals court and this was its third day. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence argues the trial court erred in refusing to allow the recording into evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial judge, Mr Justice Michael White, refused to allow the tape to be played to the jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBrady is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBrady was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, to run concurrently with the life sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBrady was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 40 years for the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBrady was arrested in the US in 2017 for being in the country illegally. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe recording was made covertly by Suspect A. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence says the recording shows a US agent coercing a suspect to put Brady in the frame for murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCounsel for the DPP said the tape did not have the relevance the defence contended. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe appellant is expected to raise a complaint about witness Molly Staunton, who gave evidence by video link from New York. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Recording of US agent ‘coercing’ suspect into putting Aaron Brady in frame for murder ‘withheld’ from jury, court hears

    Third day of the Court of Appeal hearing. The defence argues that the trial judge wrongly excluded a covert recording of US special agent Matt Katske and Suspect A, and the DPP says the tape was not relevant. The appeal continues the following Monday.

    convicted, Aaron Brady, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, Adrian Donohoe, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoesuspect
  2. 5 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Documentation not disclosed to Aaron Brady defence team until five months into trial, court hears

    Reports the second day of Brady's six-day Court of Appeal hearing, in which his defence argues late disclosure and limits on US agents' evidence. Brady is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum; the appeal is expected to continue the next day with a complaint about a video-link witness.

    convicted, Aaron Brady, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, Adrian Donohoe, 41, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoe