Ireland Aaron Brady's trial for perverting the course of justice adjourned after publicity concern raised
Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Jenkinstown, Co Louth, on January 25th, 2013. Aaron Brady, a man, was convicted in August 2020 of murdering him and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years, and his appeal against that conviction, heard last October, is still awaiting an outcome. Brady and Dean Byrne, a man, are charged with conspiring between April 8th and June 22nd, 2020 to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Brady's murder trial, and Brady is also accused of recording the playing of a video of a witness being interviewed by gardaí. When the perverting-the-course-of-justice trial was due to begin before the Special Criminal Court on Monday, Brady's lawyers raised concern about publicity, and the trial was adjourned to Tuesday so the defence could consider additional evidence served in recent days, which is the latest development.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court8 Apr
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Lawyers for Aaron Brady raised a concern about publicity arising from his trial for perverting the course of justice.
- Where
- Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Jenkinstown, Co Louth.
- When
- Det Garda Donohoe was killed during the robbery on January 25th, 2013.
- The alleged conspiracy to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill ran between April 8th, 2020 and June 22nd, 2020.
- Cause
- Det Garda Donohoe was shot during the robbery.
- Charges
- Aaron Brady and Dean Byrne, a man, are charged with conspiring to persuade a State witness not to testify at Brady's murder trial.
- Brady is also accused of recording the playing of a video of a witness being interviewed by gardaí.
- In court
- The perverting-the-course-of-justice trial is before a three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court.
- The trial was due to begin on Monday, and the defence raised concern about publicity from it.
- The trial was adjourned to Tuesday so the defence could consider additional evidence served in recent days.
- Brady was convicted in August 2020 of murdering Det Garda Donohoe.
- Sentence
- Brady was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years to be served.
- Other details
- Brady's appeal against the murder conviction, heard last October, is awaiting an outcome; if it succeeds, he would likely face a retrial at the Central Criminal Court before a jury.
- The defence says publicity from this trial could damage jurors in a future retrial and will apply to the court relying on the Irish Times v Murphy judgment on media reporting of court proceedings.
- During the murder trial, a video of a witness saying he heard Brady admit to the murder circulated on social media, and the trial judge called its dissemination the most outrageous contempt of court.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatLawyers for Aaron Brady raised a concern about publicity from a trial in which he is accused of perverting the course of justice. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Jenkinstown, Co Louth, on January 25th, 2013. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe conspiracy to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill is alleged to have run between April 8th, 2020 and June 22nd, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBrady and co-accused Dean Byrne are charged with conspiring to persuade a State witness not to testify at Brady's murder trial. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBrady is also accused of recording the playing of a video of a witness being interviewed by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was due to begin on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe perverting-the-course-of-justice trial is before a three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was adjourned to Tuesday so the defence could consider additional evidence served in recent days. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBrady was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years to be served. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady was convicted in August 2020 of murdering Det Garda Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady's appeal against his murder conviction, heard last October, is still awaiting an outcome. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIf the appeal succeeds, Brady would likely face a retrial at the Central Criminal Court before a jury. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence says publicity from this trial could damage jurors in a future retrial. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence will apply to the court relying on the Irish Times v Murphy judgment on media reporting of court proceedings. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDuring Brady's murder trial, a video of a witness saying he heard Brady admit to the murder was circulating on social media. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe trial judge called the dissemination of the video the most outrageous contempt of court. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Apr2024Garda killer raises concerns about negative publicity from trial for perverting course of justice
Covers the start of Brady and Dean Byrne's perverting-the-course-of-justice trial in the Special Criminal Court, the defence's publicity concern and the adjournment. Gives background on Brady's murder conviction, sentence and pending appeal, and on the alleged conspiracy to pressure a prosecution witness.
accused, Aaron Brady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyaccused, Dean Byrne, 30, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrne