Wednesday 28 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. 5912Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice · Co. Dublin

Dean Byrne on trial over alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of justice

Dean Byrne (30), from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, is on trial before the Special Criminal Court, accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady in Mountjoy Prison between April 8th and June 22nd, 2020, to pervert the course of justice. The alleged aim was to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's trial for the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe, which ended with Brady convicted by a jury in August 2020. The court rejected a bid to dismiss the charge on 7 May 2024, and closing speeches were heard on 8 May 2024. The judge said the verdict may be ready on 29 May 2024, the date Brady is due to be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court7 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Dean Byrne (30), from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, is on trial accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to pervert the course of justice.
Where
The alleged conspiracy took place in Mountjoy Prison, where Byrne was housed with Brady on D-wing during Brady's 2020 trial.
When
The alleged conspiracy took place between April 8th, 2020 and June 22nd, 2020.
Charges
Byrne is accused of conspiring with Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial.
Investigation
  • The prosecution says Byrne shared photographs of Cahill's garda statement with Cahill's relatives.
  • The court will consider evidence that Byrne used a smartphone in prison to disseminate Cahill's garda statement outside the prison, and that he recruited members of Cahill's family to call on Cahill not to give evidence.
Other details
  • The prosecution says Byrne acted as an agent for Brady and describes the alleged conspiracy as a criminal act of the most insidious kind.
  • The defence says there is no evidence Byrne ever met Brady in Mountjoy or was aware of Brady's campaign of intimidation.
  • The defence argues the charge is novel and vague, that persuading a witness not to give evidence is not unlawful, and that Byrne had a benign motive.
  • Mr Justice Burns said persuasion can be an offence even where the person believes the witness will give false evidence.
  • Brady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe, and Cahill told that trial Brady had confessed to him on at least three occasions.
In court
  • The three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court rejected arguments that it should dismiss the charge against Byrne on 7 May 2024.
  • The court found that at its highest, the prosecution case could amount to proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Byrne conspired with Brady.
  • Prosecutor Lorcan Staines SC made his closing speech on 8 May 2024, and the judge said the court may have its verdict ready on 29 May.
Sentence
Brady is due to be sentenced for perverting the course of justice on 29 May 2024.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe alleged conspiracy took place in Mountjoy Prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereByrne was housed with Brady on the D-wing of Mountjoy Prison during the 2020 trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged conspiracy took place between April 8th, 2020 and June 22nd, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe court will consider evidence that Byrne used a smartphone in the prison to disseminate Daniel Cahill's garda statement outside the prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThere is evidence that Byrne recruited members of Cahill's family to call upon him not to give evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDean Byrne is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDean Byrne is on trial accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Special Criminal Court rejected arguments that it should dismiss the charge against Dean Byrne. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court found that at its highest, the prosecution case could amount to proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Byrne conspired with Brady. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court will hear closing arguments in Byrne's trial on Wednesday before considering its verdict. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtProsecutor Lorcan Staines SC made his closing speech to the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the court may have its verdict ready on 29 May. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBrady is due to be sentenced for his role in perverting the course of justice during his trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Dwyer argued that persuading a witness not to give evidence is not unlawful and that Byrne had a benign motive. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Justice Burns said persuasion can be an offence even where the person believes the witness will give false evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAaron Brady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution described the alleged conspiracy as a criminal act of the most insidious kind. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution said Byrne shared photographs of Daniel Cahill's statement with Cahill's relatives. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution said Byrne acted as an agent for Brady. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence said there was no evidence Byrne ever met Brady in Mountjoy. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence said there was no evidence Byrne was aware of Brady's campaign of intimidation. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence argued the charge is novel and vague and asked the court not to convict if Byrne had a benign intention. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 May2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Garda killer’s alleged conspirator was ‘cheerleader’ for efforts against ‘rats’, court told

    Closing speeches in Byrne's trial at the Special Criminal Court. The judge said the court may have its verdict ready on 29 May, the date Brady is due to be sentenced for perverting the course of justice.

    accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrnesuspect, Aaron Brady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady
  2. 7 May2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Court declines to dismiss charge against man of perverting course of justice during Aaron Brady trial

    Reports the Special Criminal Court's ruling rejecting a bid to dismiss the charge against Byrne, the judge's reasoning on the offence, and that closing arguments are due.

    accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrne