Ireland Crime

Named as

Victim

Offences

Conspiracy to burgle, Conspiracy to steal a car, Conspiracy to steal (getaway car for credit union robbery)

Where

Co. Louth

Reporting

10 reports, 7 Oct 2021 to 8 Nov 2022

Outlets

irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie, thejournal.ie

• Supreme Court orders retrial for conspiracy to burgle in Co Louth Conspiracy to burgle · Co. Louth

  On 25 January 2013, a gang of four men in balaclavas robbed Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, of €7,000, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, was shot dead by Aaron Brady. The getaway car, a Volkswagen Passat, was stolen from a property in Clogherhead, Co Louth, on 22 and 23 January 2013. James Flynn, 35, a British man and US citizen, was convicted at the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to steal the Passat and sentenced to eight years in December 2023, but was acquitted of the robbery. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in 2025, and the Supreme Court ordered a retrial on the amended charge of conspiracy to burgle in March 2026.

  Sentenced, 21 Dec 2023Victim · 5 reports
• Supreme Court orders retrial over conspiracy to steal car in Louth Conspiracy to steal a car · Co. Louth

  On 25 January 2013, Aaron Brady shot and killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, in which €7,000 belonging to Pat Bellew was stolen, with a Volkswagen Passat stolen from Clogherhead, Co Louth used as the getaway car. James Flynn, a man with an address in Newry, Co Down, was extradited from the UK in 2022 and tried at the Special Criminal Court, where he was acquitted of the robbery but convicted on an amended charge of conspiring to steal the Passat and sentenced to eight years in December 2023. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in March 2025, finding the post-trial amendment of the indictment breached his right to constitutional natural justice. The Supreme Court in October 2026 dismissed Flynn's appeal on the substantive issues but directed a retrial on the amended indictment.

  Sentenced, 21 Dec 2023Victim · 3 reports
• Man jailed for eight years over conspiracy to steal car in Louth Conspiracy to steal (getaway car for credit union robbery) · Co. Louth

  On 25 January 2013, a gang of five robbed Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, was shot dead in the head with a shotgun. Brendan Treanor, 34, of Dundalk, Co Louth, and James Flynn, 32, of South Armagh, were charged with the robbery and with conspiring with Aaron Brady and others to steal car keys in creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013. After a 55-day trial at the Special Criminal Court, the court acquitted Treanor of all charges and acquitted Flynn of the robbery on 11 September 2023, but convicted Flynn of conspiring with Brady to steal the Volkswagen Passat getaway car. Aaron Brady, 31, of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was previously convicted of murdering Det Garda Donohoe and the robbery and is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum. On 21 December 2023, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced Flynn to eight years in prison.

  Sentenced, 21 Dec 2023Victim · 2 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 8 Nov2022
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Supreme Court orders retrial for conspiracy to burgle in Co Louth

   Man charged with CU robbery during which garda was murdered granted legal aid

   victim, Pat Bellew, male, irish (judged from name)Pat Bellew♂IE
2. 5 Nov2022
   In courtirishmirror.ie, in Supreme Court orders retrial over conspiracy to steal car in Louth

   Accused thief's dad taunts gardai saying 'they're gone, you will never get them'

   victim, Pat Bellew, irish (judged from name)Pat BellewIE
3. 4 Nov2022
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Supreme Court orders retrial for conspiracy to burgle in Co Louth

   Accused in Lordship Credit Union robbery refused bail by Special Criminal Court

   victim, Pat Bellew, irish (judged from name)Pat BellewIE
4. 4 Nov2022
   In courtdundalkdemocrat.ie, in Supreme Court orders retrial for conspiracy to burgle in Co Louth

   Bail refused for Lordship robbery accused James Flynn

   victim, Pat Bellew, irish (judged from name)Pat BellewIE
5. 4 Oct2022
   In courtdundalkdemocrat.ie, in Supreme Court orders retrial for conspiracy to burgle in Co Louth

   Man accused of Lordship Credit Union robbery has case transferred to Special Criminal Court

   victim, Pat Bellew, male, irish (judged from name)Pat Bellew♂IE
6. 3 Oct2022
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Supreme Court orders retrial over conspiracy to steal car in Louth

   Man extradited from UK over Lordship Credit Union robbery has case transferred to Special Criminal Court

   victim, Pat Bellew, irish (judged from name)Pat BellewIE
7. 3 Oct2022
   In courtthejournal.ie, in Supreme Court orders retrial over conspiracy to steal car in Louth

   Man accused of Lordship Credit Union robbery to be tried at non-jury Special Criminal Court

   victim, Pat Bellew, irish (judged from name)Pat BellewIE
8. 7 Oct2021
   In courtirishmirror.ie, in Supreme Court orders retrial for conspiracy to burgle in Co Louth

   Man to go on trial charged in relation to robbery in which garda was shot dead

   victim, Pat Bellew, male, irish (judged from name)Pat Bellew♂IE
9. 7 Oct2021
   In courtthejournal.ie, in Man jailed for eight years over conspiracy to steal car in Louth

   Man to go on trial at Special Criminal Court over robbery at Lordship Credit Union in 2013

   victim, Pat Bellew, irish (judged from name)Pat BellewIE
10. 7 Oct2021
    In courtirishtimes.com, in Man jailed for eight years over conspiracy to steal car in Louth

    Man to go on trial next year over 2013 Lordship credit union robbery

    victim, Pat Bellew, male, irish (judged from name)Pat Bellew♂IE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.