Garda killer Aaron Brady's perverting the course of justice sentence increased to five years
Aaron Brady, 35, who is serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe during a credit union robbery in Co Louth, was convicted of the murder by a jury in August 2020. He pleaded guilty in 2024 to secretly video-recording a Garda interview with witness Ronan Flynn in 2020 and conspiring with Dean Byrne, 33, to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. The Special Criminal Court sentenced him to three years for perverting the course of justice. In July 2026, the Court of Appeal, following a State appeal, increased his sentence to five years, with Judge Kennedy describing the offending as premeditated and an affront to the administration of justice.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced31 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Brady is serving a life sentence for the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe.
- Brady pleaded guilty in 2024 to video-recording a Garda interview with Ronan Flynn and conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade Daniel Cahill not to give evidence.
- Where
- The murder occurred during a credit union robbery at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
- Brady is from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh.
- When
- The murder occurred on January 25, 2013.
- The recorded witness interview took place between February 20 and May 7, 2020, and the conspiracy with Dean Byrne ran from April 8 to June 22, 2020.
- Charges
- Brady was charged with perverting the course of justice.
- In court
- Brady was convicted of the murder by a jury in August 2020 and sentenced to three years for perverting the course of justice by the Special Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- The Court of Appeal increased Brady's sentence from three to five years in July 2026 following a State appeal.
- Other details
- Dean Byrne, 33, is a violent criminal housed on the same wing of Mountjoy Prison.
- Brady had fled to New York in the aftermath of the murder.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBrady is serving a life sentence for the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe (irishtimes.com)
- whatDean Byrne is 33 and a violent criminal housed on the same wing of Mountjoy Prison (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrady had fled from Ireland to New York in the aftermath of the murder (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder occurred during a credit union robbery at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth (irishtimes.com)
- whereBrady is from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on January 25, 2013 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBrady pleaded guilty in 2024 to video-recording a witness interview between Ronan Flynn and gardaí between February 20 and May 7, 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA further count related to conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade Daniel Cahill not to give evidence between April 8 and June 22, 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBrady's three-year sentence for perverting the course of justice was increased to five years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBrady was originally sentenced to three years by the three-judge Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Jul2026Garda killer Aaron Brady has sentence for recording witness interview increased
Court of Appeal increased Brady's perverting the course of justice sentence from three to five years following a State appeal; Judge Kennedy called the offending 'premeditated', 'insidious' and 'menacing' and an 'affront to the administration of justice'.
convicted, Aaron Brady, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, Adrian Donohoe, male, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoesuspect, Dean Byrne, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrne