Thursday 29 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. 7529Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice · Co. Dublin

Supreme Court to hear appeal over conviction for trying to dissuade witness in Brady murder trial

Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered on 25 January 2013 during a credit union robbery at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Aaron Brady, 35, was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder and is serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years. Dean Byrne, 33, of Cabra Park, Phibsborough, was found guilty in 2024 at the Special Criminal Court of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by trying to persuade a witness in Brady's trial not to give evidence, and was sentenced to two years. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal in December 2025, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear it on whether it can ever be lawful to seek to persuade a witness not to give evidence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Det Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered during a credit union robbery.
  • Aaron Brady, 35, was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Donohoe.
  • Dean Byrne, 33, of Cabra Park, Phibsborough, has more than 120 convictions.
Where
The murder took place at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
When
The murder happened on 25 January 2013.
Cause
The murder occurred during a credit union robbery.
Sentence
  • Brady is serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years.
  • Byrne was sentenced to two years for the offence.
Charges
Byrne was charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice during Brady's trial, by seeking to persuade a witness not to give evidence.
Investigation
The Court of Appeal found Byrne used unlawful means by sending a witness's Garda statement to a third party.
In court
  • Byrne was found guilty of the charge in 2024 at the Special Criminal Court.
  • The Court of Appeal, under Judge Brian O'Moore, rejected Byrne's appeal in December 2025.
  • The Supreme Court will hear Byrne's appeal on whether it can ever be lawful to seek to persuade a witness not to give evidence.
Other details
Byrne was jailed for 18 years, with four suspended, for an aggravated burglary in Tipperary in 2013.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • 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)
  • chargeThe charge was conspiracy to pervert the course of justice during Brady's trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • 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)
  • 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)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Supreme 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