Ireland Aaron Brady's Court of Appeal challenge to murder conviction of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe
On 25 January 2013, Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during an ambush on a cash escort at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth, where the raiders stole €7,000. Aaron Brady, a man, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020 by an 11-to-one majority jury verdict and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 40-year minimum, plus 14 years for the robbery to run concurrently. The trial lasted 122 court days. Brady is now challenging the conviction in a six-day Court of Appeal hearing, where his lawyers argue that it was inappropriate for a jury to decide his guilt during the Covid-19 pandemic, while the Director of Public Prosecutions says no unbearable burden was placed on jurors. The hearing continues the following day before Mr Justice John Edwards.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Aaron Brady was convicted in 2020 of the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe.
- Det Garda Donohoe was on a cash escort when a five-man gang ambushed him.
- The raiders stole €7,000 in cash during a robbery that lasted 58 seconds.
- Where
- The murder took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth.
- When
- The murder took place on 25 January 2013.
- Cause
- Det Garda Donohoe was shot dead during the ambush.
- In court
- Brady was found guilty by an 11-to-one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020.
- The trial lasted 122 court days.
- Brady launched a bid to overturn his conviction in a six-day Court of Appeal hearing.
- Brady's lawyers argue it was inappropriate for a jury to determine his guilt during the Covid-19 pandemic; the Director of Public Prosecutions says no unbearable burden was placed on the jurors.
- The appeal is expected to focus mainly on defence complaints about two witnesses who gave evidence by video link from New York.
- The appeal continues the following day before Mr Justice John Edwards.
- Sentence
- Brady is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum.
- Brady was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, to run concurrently with the life sentence.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAaron Brady was convicted in 2020 of the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Garda Donohoe was on a cash escort when he was ambushed by a five-man gang. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe raiders stole €7,000 in cash during the robbery, which lasted 58 seconds. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder took place on 25 January 2013. (irishtimes.com)
- causeDet Garda Donohoe was shot dead during the ambush. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady was found guilty by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady's trial was the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasting 122 court days. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady has launched a bid to overturn his conviction in a six-day hearing before the Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady's lawyers argue it was inappropriate for a jury to determine his guilt during the Covid-19 pandemic. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions says no unbearable burden was placed on the jurors. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe appeal is expected to focus mainly on defence complaints about two witnesses who gave evidence by video link from New York. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe appeal continues the following day before Mr Justice John Edwards. (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)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Oct2023Aaron Brady trial should have been halted due to ‘unbearable burden’ on jury during Covid-19, court hears
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing of Aaron Brady's challenge to his 2020 murder conviction. Adds the grounds of appeal (Covid-era trial and a jury burden, cross-examination of his former solicitor), the prosecution's response, the 122-day trial length and the appeal's scheduled continuation.
victim, Adrian Donohoe, 41, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoeconvicted, Aaron Brady, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady