Ireland Case No. 5912Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice · Co. Dublin
Supreme Court to hear appeal in perverting justice case in Dublin
Dean Byrne, 33, of Phibsborough, Dublin, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court in June 2024 of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's trial for the 2013 murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe in Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth. The alleged conspiracy took place in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, between 8 April and 22 June 2020, during which Byrne is accused of sharing photographs of Cahill's statement with relatives and recruiting family members to pressure him not to testify. Byrne was sentenced to two years, and the Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed his appeal in December 2025, finding his use of the witness statement was unlawful. The Supreme Court will now hear Byrne's appeal on the legal question of whether it can ever be lawful to persuade a witness not to give evidence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 Apr
14 reports - Convicted14 Jun
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Dean Byrne is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial.
- The murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe occurred during a credit union robbery in Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013.
- Where
- The alleged conspiracy took place in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, where Byrne and Brady were housed on the D-wing.
- When
- The alleged conspiracy took place between 8 April and 22 June 2020.
- Investigation
- A mobile phone was found hidden in a sock in a wall hatch in a prisoner's cell at Mountjoy Prison, and exchanges on the phone were attributed to Byrne.
- Byrne is accused of sharing photographs of Daniel Cahill's statement with Cahill's relatives and recruiting family members to pressure him not to testify.
- Charges
- Byrne was charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice during Brady's trial.
- In court
- The Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury court, convicted Byrne in June 2024.
- The Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed Byrne's appeal in December 2025, finding his use of the witness statement was unlawful.
- The Supreme Court will hear Byrne's appeal on the legal question of whether it can ever be lawful to persuade a witness not to give evidence.
- Sentence
- Byrne was sentenced to two years for the offence.
- Other details
- Brady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe and is serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years.
- Byrne has more than 120 convictions and is already serving an 18-year sentence for a 2013 burglary.
175 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA witness was warned that his family would 'Get It' if he testified against Aaron Brady. (extra.ie)
- whatDean Byrne pleaded not guilty to conspiring to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Aaron Brady's murder trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatDean Byrne is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade a witness not to give evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- whatDean Byrne is on trial accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThe prosecution says Byrne shared photographs of Daniel Cahill's statement with Cahill's relatives. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatDean Byrne was convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Aaron Brady's trial for the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatByrne tried to get Cahill's family members to persuade him not to tell the trial that Brady had confessed to murdering a garda. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatByrne is 33 and lives in Cabra Park, Phibsborough. (irishtimes.com)
- whatByrne has more than 120 convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn the 2013 burglary, Byrne and six others broke into a family home and terrorised a couple and their three daughters aged eight, six and two. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe murder occurred during a credit union robbery at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013. (irishtimes.com)
- whereByrne and Brady shared a landing in Mountjoy prison during Brady's murder trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereBrady was housed on the D-wing basement floor, an area reserved for prisoners with special privileges. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereBrady was housed on the D-wing basement floor in Mountjoy. (thejournal.ie)
- whereBrady was in cell 20 in the D-basement, a single occupancy cell. (thejournal.ie)
- whereA mobile phone was found hidden in a sock in a wall hatch in a prisoner's cell at Mountjoy Prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe alleged conspiracy took place in Mountjoy Prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie, irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- whereByrne was housed with Brady on the D-wing of Mountjoy Prison during the 2020 trial. (irishtimes.com)
- whereByrne and Brady were housed on different landings in the D-wing of Mountjoy prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereByrne and Brady were held in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe conspiracy took place in Mountjoy Prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereBrady and Byrne were housed on different landings in the D-wing of Mountjoy prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe appeal ruling was delivered at the Court of Appeal in Dublin. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereByrne conspired with Aaron Brady in Mountjoy Prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe charged conduct is alleged to have taken place between 8 April and 22 June 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe alleged conspiracy ran from April 8, 2020 to June 22, 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe alleged conspiracy ran between April 8, 2020 and June 22, 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe alleged conspiracy took place between April 8th, 2020 and June 22nd, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged conspiracy took place between 8 April 2020 and 22 June 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe alleged conspiracy ran from 8 April 2020 to 22 June 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe prosecution gave its closing speech on Wednesday. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe conspiracy took place between April 8, 2020 and June 22, 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe conspiracy ran between 8 April 2020 and 22 June 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- causeByrne tried to dissuade witness Daniel Cahill from giving evidence against Aaron Brady. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationA phone found in Byrne's cell was said by counsel to have been used by Byrne. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationByrne told gardaí he had never seen the phone before and did not know Brady. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationExchanges were found on a phone in Byrne's cell. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationByrne's cell was searched after a tip-off, and the wall hatch was found hanging in place with its screws removed. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe sock was retrieved from the wall cavity and contained a black Sony smartphone. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationGardaí found a Facebook account under Dean Byrne's name that had contacted a relative of Daniel Cahill. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationGardaí obtained a court order to retrieve records of conversations between the two Facebook accounts from Facebook. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationByrne is alleged to have asked that the statements not be given to Cahill. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThree photographs of pages from Daniel Cahill's statement to gardaí were allegedly sent from Byrne's phone. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- 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 on trial accused of conspiring to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence in order to pervert the course of justice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeBrady was charged with conspiring with Byrne to persuade Cahill not to testify. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeDean Byrne is on trial accused of conspiring with Brady in Mountjoy Prison to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeByrne has pleaded not guilty to the single charge. (dundalkdemocrat.ie, thejournal.ie)
- chargeByrne is accused of conspiring with Brady in Mountjoy Prison between 8 April and 22 June 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBrady pleaded guilty to a charge of a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice between 20 February and 7 May 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeByrne is on trial accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady in Mountjoy Prison between 8 April 2020 and 22 June 2020 to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeByrne is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- 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 accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeDean Byrne is on trial accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeByrne was convicted of a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeByrne was convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Aaron Brady's trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeByrne was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring with Aaron Brady to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeThe charge was conspiracy to pervert the course of justice during Brady's trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was opened by prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC on a Thursday afternoon. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe case is being heard before the Special Criminal Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtByrne has pleaded not guilty. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Paul Burns, Judge Elma Sheehan and Judge Marie Keane. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtBrady did not enter a plea to the conspiracy count, but the court heard it should be taken into account at sentencing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe trial is heard by a three-judge, non-jury court presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe trial was adjourned to allow the parties to continue working on outstanding admissions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe defence said admissions could shorten the trial to two to three weeks instead of 14 weeks. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Special Criminal Court heard that Brady was an enhanced prisoner in Mountjoy with unique access to a laptop. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtDean Byrne is on trial at the Special Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtUnder cross-examination, Det Gda Madden said some messages could be read as Byrne believing Cahill's statement was false. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe trial is before the Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury court, and is continuing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court has spent two days hearing arguments in the trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtByrne's counsel asked the court to direct an acquittal. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Special Criminal Court will rule next week on whether to order Byrne's acquittal. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe judge adjourned the case until the following Tuesday, when the judges will give their judgment. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Special Criminal Court rejected arguments that it should dismiss the charge against Dean Byrne. (irishtimes.com, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- 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)
- courtThe court found that at its highest, the prosecution case could prove beyond reasonable doubt that Byrne conspired with Brady. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtMr Justice Burns found there does not have to be evidence of force, threats of force or corrupt inducements. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- 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)
- courtThe case is heard by the Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJustice Paul Burns adjourned the case until 29 May. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is before the Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe judge adjourned the case until 29 May 2024 and said the court may have its verdict ready on that date. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe verdict was delivered by the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe court was satisfied that Brady and Byrne were in regular communication during Brady's 2020 trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Special Criminal Court, a three-judge non-jury court, delivered its verdict on the trial of Dean Byrne. (thejournal.ie)
- courtByrne's lawyers argued at the Court of Appeal that he should not have been convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe hearing took place at the three-judge Court of Appeal. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal was asked to rule on whether any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence is an attempt to pervert the course of justice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe three-judge Court of Appeal reserved judgment. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtDean Byrne has lost an appeal against his conviction for conspiring to pervert the course of justice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtMr Justice Brian O'Moore delivered the ruling dismissing the appeal. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Special Criminal Court convicted Byrne in June of the previous year. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtA date will be set for the DPP's leniency appeal hearings later this month. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court will hear Byrne's appeal on his perverting the course of justice conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtByrne was found guilty of the charge in 2024 at the Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court will consider whether it can ever be lawful to seek to persuade a witness not to give evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBrady is due to be sentenced for his role in perverting the course of justice during his trial. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSentencing was adjourned to July 15. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe sentencing hearing was adjourned to 15 July. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe court imposed a two-year sentence on Byrne. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe DPP intends to argue that the two-year sentence imposed on Byrne was unduly lenient. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceByrne was sentenced to two years for the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceByrne was jailed for 18 years with four suspended for an aggravated burglary in 2013 in Tipperary. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBrady is serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA man allegedly offered in a message exchange with Byrne to harm Cahill. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne allegedly sent a message saying Cahill was giving evidence on Monday. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe prosecution contends that Byrne was acting as Brady's agent. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe DPP put forward 35 proposals that the defence might not need to have formally proven. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBrady pleaded guilty to a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice between February 20 and May 7, 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherA message allegedly sent by Byrne referred to Cahill's scheduled testimony. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherPrison officer Pat Ferris told the trial that he knew Brady as a prisoner in 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne was previously heard to have been on a different floor of the same wing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe prison developed a protocol so Brady could use a laptop only when locked alone in his cell, and the laptop had no internet access. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBrady pleaded guilty before the trial to a separate charge of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice between February 20 and May 7, 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherPrison officer Pat Ferris told the trial that he knew Aaron Brady as a prisoner in 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBrady was an enhanced prisoner in Mountjoy with unique access to a laptop. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe court ordered the prison to give Brady access to a laptop to review his book of evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBrady could use the laptop only when locked alone in his cell, and it had no internet access. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe laptop did not have access to the internet. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe prison went into lockdown in late March 2020 due to Covid. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherCahill gave his evidence in Brady's trial by videolink from New York in June 2020 because of covid-related travel restrictions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherDet Gda Madden said it took 16 minutes from when Byrne said he would try to get the statements to when they were sent. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of murdering Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne's counsel argued that he had a benign motive and a moral obligation to prevent an injustice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne's lawyers argued he genuinely believed Cahill was going to commit perjury. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe prosecution argued that any attempt to persuade a witness not to give evidence is an attempt to pervert the course of justice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of murdering Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- 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, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherAaron Brady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence argued that Byrne had a benign motive because he believed Cahill would give false evidence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe court will consider evidence that Byrne used a smartphone in prison to disseminate Cahill's garda statement. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe court will hear closing arguments in Byrne's trial before considering its verdict. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- 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)
- otherThe prosecution called the alleged conspiracy a criminal act of the most insidious kind. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said Byrne was housed with Brady on D-wing of Mountjoy Prison during Brady's 2020 trial. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defence said the prosecution had not produced any evidence that Byrne ever met Brady in Mountjoy. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defence said there was no evidence of any agreement between Byrne and Brady. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe prosecution says Byrne was one of Brady's enthusiastic cheerleaders in the alleged campaign, which Brady directed. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe prosecution describes the alleged conduct as a criminal act of the most insidious kind. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe prosecution says the alleged conspiracy included an attempt to set up a meeting between Brady's father and Cahill's father. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defence says it is staggering that the prosecution cannot produce evidence that Byrne ever met Brady in Mountjoy. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defence says the charge is novel and vague. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defence says there is no evidence that Byrne was aware of any campaign of intimidation. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe during a credit union robbery in Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBrady gave copies of parts of Cahill's statement to Byrne, who passed them to a man who had previously lived with Cahill's father. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe court said the agreed course of conduct was intended to interfere with or obstruct the course of justice. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defence argued that Byrne genuinely believed Cahill was going to give false evidence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne is already serving an 18-year sentence, with four suspended, for a 2013 burglary. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne tried to get Cahill's family members to contact him and persuade him not to tell the trial that Brady had confessed to murdering a garda. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBrady sent copies of parts of Cahill's statement to Byrne. (thejournal.ie)
- otherByrne referred to Cahill as a 'filthbag, rat bastard of a thing' in a message. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge said Byrne had no legitimate involvement in the trial and had recruited others to put social pressure on Cahill. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defence argued there was scant evidence of association between Brady and Byrne. (thejournal.ie)
- otherByrne is already serving an 18-year sentence, with four years suspended, for a 2013 burglary. (thejournal.ie)
- otherByrne's lawyers said he had an honest belief that the witness, Daniel Cahill, was going to give false evidence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe trial court found Byrne used unlawful means by sending part of Cahill's statement to a third party. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne's lawyers argued that the trial court should not have found the dissemination of the statement unlawful and that Byrne should have been acquitted. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe Special Criminal Court found that Brady and Byrne were in regular communication during Brady's 2020 trial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe trial judge said Byrne recruited others to put social pressure on Cahill and unlawfully disseminated parts of the witness's statement. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherDean Byrne claimed he had a benign motive when he tried to persuade a witness not to give evidence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne sent Mr Cahill's garda statement to a third party, which the court found was unlawful. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherByrne is no longer in custody but attended the ruling. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jun2026Supreme Court to hear appeal by Dublin criminal who tried to dissuade witness in garda murder trial
The Supreme Court will hear Byrne's appeal on the legal question of whether it can ever be lawful to persuade a witness not to give evidence. The Court of Appeal, under Judge Brian O'Moore, rejected his bid in December 2025, finding Byrne used unlawful means by sending Cahill's Garda statement to a third party.
convicted, Dean Byrne, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrneconvicted, Aaron Brady, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, Adrian Donohoe, male, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoe - 5 Dec2025Criminal who conspired with garda murderer Aaron Brady loses appeal
The Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed Byrne's appeal against conviction and found his use of the witness statement was unlawful. The DPP will appeal the leniency of the sentences imposed on Byrne and Brady, with a hearing date to be set.
convicted, Dean Byrne, 32, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrne - 20 Feb2025Violent criminal claims "benign" motive in dissuading a witness in Louth garda murder trial
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing of Byrne's appeal against his conviction, with judgment reserved. It also restates the conviction, sentence and the Mountjoy Prison facts from the Special Criminal Court case.
convicted, Dean Byrne, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrne - 14 Jun2024Man convicted for conspiring to pervert the course of justice during trial for garda's murder
Reports the Special Criminal Court verdict convicting Dean Byrne, the judge's reasoning, the alleged conduct and the adjourned sentencing date. Adds the verdict and details of the conspiracy to the trial case.
convicted, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrnesuspect, Aaron Brady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 14 Jun2024Violent thug convicted of conspiracy to pervert justice in garda murderer's trial
Reports the Special Criminal Court verdict convicting Byrne, delivered 14 June 2024, and adjourns sentencing to July 15. Adds the judge's findings on the conspiracy and the defence argument.
convicted, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrnesuspect, Aaron Brady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 9 May2024Alleged conspiracy with garda murderer was "Criminal act of the most insidious kind" says barrister
Reports the prosecution closing speech and defence submissions in Dean Byrne's Special Criminal Court trial on Wednesday 8 May 2024, and that the judge adjourned the case until 29 May 2024, when Brady was due to be sentenced for his role in perverting the course of justice.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrnesuspect, Aaron Brady, 33, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 8 May2024Special Criminal Court told man was 'cheerleader' of a garda killer's witness intimidation campaign
Reports the closing speeches of the prosecution and defence in Byrne's Special Criminal Court trial, adds Brady's role and the prosecution's claims about the photographs of Cahill's statement, and says the judge adjourned the case to 29 May, when the verdict may be ready.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrneconvicted, Aaron Brady, 33, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 8 May2024Garda 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 - 8 May2024Court rejects bid to discharge man accused of conspiring with garda killer Aaron Brady
Reports the Special Criminal Court's ruling rejecting Byrne's application to dismiss the charge, the judge's reasoning on the offence, and that closing arguments were due on 8 May 2024 before a verdict.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrnesuspect, Aaron Brady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 7 May2024Court 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 - 3 May2024Court to rule on acquittal for man accused of conspiracy to commit perjury during garda murderer's trial
Reports the Special Criminal Court hearing of arguments on Byrne's application for a direction of acquittal, with judgment adjourned to the following Tuesday. Adds the defence argument that Byrne acted from a benign motive and the prosecution response.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrnesuspect, Aaron Brady, 33, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 30 Apr2024Prison officer found phone in sock in cell wall during Aaron Brady murder trial
Reports the Special Criminal Court trial evidence on 30 April 2024: the search that found the phone in a sock in a cell wall, the Facebook account and messages attributed to Byrne, and the cross-examination of Det Gda Madden. The trial is continuing.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrne - 24 Apr2024Garda killer Aaron Brady had access to laptop in prison while allegedly intimidating witness
Reports evidence from prison officer Pat Ferris at Dean Byrne's trial that Brady was housed in a single cell on the D-wing basement and had laptop access ordered by the court. Also confirms Byrne's not guilty plea and that Brady had already pleaded guilty to his own charge.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrneconvicted, Aaron Brady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 24 Apr2024Garda murderer was enhanced prisoner at time of alleged conspiracy to pervert course of justice
Adds trial evidence from prison staff about Brady's status and laptop access in Mountjoy, notes the trial was ongoing, and records Byrne's not guilty plea. It also reports Brady's earlier guilty plea to a related charge.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrnesuspect, Aaron Brady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 16 Apr2024Possible admissions in trial of man accused of conspiracy to pervert justice in Louth garda murder trial
Follow-up on the ongoing trial. The defence was considering admissions from a list of 35 DPP proposals, which could shorten the trial from 14 weeks to two to three weeks. The article also reports Brady's guilty plea to a separate course of conduct and specific alleged messages from Byrne's phone.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrne - 15 Apr2024Witness Was Warned His Family Would 'Get It' If He Testified Against Aaron Brady
Only the headline is available; the article text is template code with no body. The headline reports a warning to a witness about testifying against Aaron Brady.
victim, malesuspect, Aaron Brady, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 12 Apr2024Man offered to "do damage" to key witness in garda killer's murder trial
Reports the opening of Byrne's trial, the prosecution's account of the messages, an unnamed man's offer to harm Cahill (who is not charged in this article), and Byrne's denials to gardaí. Gives the charge period as 8 April to 22 June 2020.
accused, Dean Byrne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrneaccused, Aaron Brady, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady