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. 7541Robbery · Co. Louth · 25 Jan 2013

Two men found not guilty of direct involvement in 2013 Lordship robbery that led to Garda Donohoe's murder

On 25 January 2013, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot and killed during a robbery of about €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth. James Flynn (32), from South Armagh, and Brendan Treanor were tried by the Special Criminal Court over the robbery, which Aaron Brady, convicted of the murder in a separate case, was not a defendant in. On 11 September 2023 the court found both men not guilty of direct involvement in the robbery, convicted Flynn of conspiring to steal a getaway car, and acquitted Treanor of all charges. Flynn was remanded in custody for sentencing on November 13th.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdict11 Sep
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered during the robbery.
  • About €7,000 was stolen in the robbery.
Where
The robbery took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth.
When
The robbery took place on January 25, 2013.
Cause
Aaron Brady, convicted of the murder in a separate case, shot and killed Donohoe during the robbery.
Investigation
CCTV evidence showed Flynn and Brady together the day before the robbery, scouting the credit union.
Charges
The accused were charged with conspiring to enter homes to steal car keys between September 2012 and January 2013.
In court
  • On 11 September 2023 the Special Criminal Court found Flynn and Treanor not guilty of direct involvement in the robbery.
  • The court was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Flynn was one of the direct participants, but found he was an active member of the gang and an accessory before and after the event.
  • Flynn was found guilty of conspiring with Brady to steal the Volkswagen Passat used as the getaway car, which one source describes as theft of the car and another as conspiracy to steal it.
  • Treanor was found to be a member of the gang but was acquitted, as the prosecution had not excluded the reasonable possibility that he was at home at the time, and he was also acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglaries.
  • The trial concluded on May 19 after 55 days of evidence, which one source describes as lasting more than three months.
Sentence
Flynn was remanded into custody for sentencing, which is set for November 13th.
Other details
The judge said Flynn lied about his whereabouts at the time of the robbery and drove his BMW to the site where the getaway car was burned out.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA detective garda, Adrian Donohoe, was murdered during the robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAbout €7,000 was stolen in the robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe judge said Flynn drove his BMW to the site where the getaway car was burned out. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo men were found not guilty of direct involvement in the robbery that led to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe robbery took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe robbery of €7,000 took place at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe robbery took place on January 25th, 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe robbery took place on January 25, 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeAaron Brady shot and killed Detective Garda Donohoe during the robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV evidence showed Flynn and Brady together the day before the robbery, scouting the credit union. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused were charged with conspiring to enter homes to steal car keys between September 2012 and January 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFlynn was found guilty of the theft of the Volkswagen Passat used as the getaway car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Special Criminal Court acquitted two men accused of a 2013 credit union robbery in Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Flynn was one of the direct participants in the robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said Flynn was an accessory before and after the event. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court found Flynn guilty of conspiring with Brady to steal a car used in the robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtTreanor was acquitted of the robbery charge because there was no direct evidence linking him to the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution had not excluded the reasonable possibility that Treanor was at home at the time of the robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtTreanor was also acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglaries. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Special Criminal Court found James Flynn not guilty of direct involvement in the robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtBrendan Treanor was found not guilty, as the court could not prove beyond reasonable doubt he was at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judges found Treanor was a member of the criminal gang but did not prove he was at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtTreanor was acquitted of the charges against him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judges found Flynn was part of the gang but could not say beyond reasonable doubt that he was directly involved in the robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial concluded on May 19 after 55 days of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceA sentencing hearing for Flynn is to be held on November 13th. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceFlynn was remanded into custody for sentencing at a later date. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge said Flynn lied about his whereabouts at the time of the robbery. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Sep2023
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Two found not guilty of direct involvement in robbery that led to Garda's murder

    Reports the Special Criminal Court verdicts in the trial of two co-accused: Flynn convicted of vehicle theft and remanded for sentencing, Treanor acquitted. Adds the trial length and the judges' reasoning on evidence.

    victim, Adrian Donohoe, 41, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoeconvicted, James 'Jimmy' Flynn, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)James 'Jimmy' Flynnaccused, Brendan 'Benny' Treanor, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan 'Benny' Treanor
  2. 11 Sep2023
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Two men acquitted of carrying out credit union robbery that led to detective’s murder

    Verdicts in the trial of two accused: Treanor acquitted on all charges and Flynn convicted of conspiracy to steal a car, with sentencing set for November 13th. The robbery was linked to the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, but Brady, who was convicted of that murder in a separate case, was not a defendant here.

    convicted, James Flynn, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Flynnaccused, Brendan Treanor, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Treanor