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. 0121Conspiracy to burgle · Co. Louth · 22 Jan 2013

Supreme Court orders retrial for man accused of stealing car used in fatal credit union robbery

A Volkswagen Passat was stolen from a property in Clogherhead, Co Louth, between 22 and 23 January 2013 and used two days later in the robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, a married father of two, was shot dead by Aaron Brady. James Flynn, a 35-year-old man, was charged with conspiring to burgle cars at various locations in 2012 and 2013; the Special Criminal Court found the wider charge not proven but amended the indictment to convict him of stealing the Passat, and he was sentenced to eight years in December 2023. The Court of Appeal overturned that conviction in 2025, finding the post-trial amendment breached Flynn's right to natural justice, and ordered a retrial on the original charge. In October 2026, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled the retrial should proceed only on the amended charge relating to the Passat, and Judge Brian O'Moore ordered Flynn retried at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady, 35, of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for the murder, having been found guilty in 2020.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A Volkswagen Passat was stolen from a property in Clogherhead, Co Louth, between 22 and 23 January 2013.
  • The stolen Passat was used on 25 January 2013 in the robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead by Aaron Brady.
When
The car theft occurred between 22 and 23 January 2013 and the robbery and murder occurred on 25 January 2013.
Where
The car was stolen from Clogherhead, Co Louth, and the robbery took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth.
Cause
Detective Garda Donohoe was shot dead during the credit union robbery.
Charges
James Flynn, 35, was charged with conspiring to burgle cars at various locations in 2012 and 2013.
In court
  • The Special Criminal Court found the original charge not proven but amended the indictment to convict Flynn of conspiring to steal the Volkswagen Passat from Clogherhead between 22 and 23 January 2013.
  • The Court of Appeal overturned Flynn's conviction in 2025, finding the post-trial amendment of the indictment breached his right to natural justice, and ordered a retrial on the original wider conspiracy charge.
  • In October 2026, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment by Judge Brian O'Moore, found the Court of Appeal had erred and ordered Flynn retried at the Special Criminal Court on the amended charge of conspiracy to burgle the Passat on 22 and 23 January 2013.
Sentence
  • The Special Criminal Court sentenced Flynn to eight years in prison in December 2023.
  • Aaron Brady, 35, of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe, having been found guilty in 2020.
Other details
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was a married father of two.
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe stolen Passat was used two days later in the robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDetective Garda Adrian Donohoe, a married father of two, was shot dead by Aaron Brady during the robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDetective Garda Donohoe was shot dead by Aaron Brady during the robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder of Garda Donohoe occurred on 25 January 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeFlynn was charged with conspiring to burgle cars at various locations in 2012 and 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe original charge was conspiring to burgle cars at various locations in 2012 and 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Supreme Court ordered a retrial for a man accused of conspiring to steal a car used in a credit union robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Special Criminal Court found the original charge not proven but amended the indictment to convict Flynn of conspiring to steal a Volkswagen Passat from Clogherhead, Co Louth, between 22 and 23 January 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court unanimously found it legally permissible for the DPP to proceed with a retrial on the amended charge relating solely to the Volkswagen Passat, but not the wider conspiracy. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Brian O'Moore ordered Flynn be retried at the Special Criminal Court on the amended indictment of conspiracy to burgle on 22 and 23 January 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court ordered a retrial for James Flynn. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtFlynn was previously tried at the Special Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe three-judge non-jury court found the charge not proven but amended the indictment to find Flynn guilty of stealing a Volkswagen Passat from Clogherhead. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal overturned Flynn's conviction two years later. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal found the post-trial amendment of the indictment breached Flynn's right to natural justice. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal ordered a retrial on the original indictment for the wider conspiracy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtFlynn appealed to the Supreme Court opposing any retrial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment, said the Court of Appeal had erred. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Brian O'Moore delivered the Supreme Court judgment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtFlynn is to be retried at the Special Criminal Court on the amended indictment of conspiracy to burgle on the dates of January 22 and 23 of 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtBrady was found guilty in 2020 of the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAaron Brady, 35, of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for the murder of Donohoe, having been found guilty in 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe Special Criminal Court sentenced Flynn to eight years in prison in December 2023. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAaron Brady is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Oct2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man accused of stealing car used in fatal robbery granted retrial

    Supreme Court orders retrial at the Special Criminal Court on the amended charge of conspiracy to burgle the Volkswagen Passat; the Court of Appeal had overturned the original conviction, finding the post-trial amendment of the indictment breached natural justice.

    accused, James Flynn, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Flynnconvicted, Aaron Brady, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, Adrian Donohoe, male, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoe
  2. 16 Oct2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Retrial ordered for man previously convicted over getaway car used in Lordship Credit Union robbery

    Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Court of Appeal's retrial order but limited it to the amended charge (conspiracy to steal the Passat) rather than the wider conspiracy; Flynn's December 2023 eight-year sentence was overturned in 2025; Judge O'Moore cited clear public interest in deciding Flynn's innocence or guilt.

    accused, James Flynn, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Flynnconvicted, Aaron Brady, 35, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, Adrian Donohoe, male, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoe