Garda killer who tried to stop witnesses giving evidence has sentence adjourned

A sentencing hearing for Aaron Brady, who murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and then attempted to pervert the course of justice during his trial, has been adjourned.

The Special Criminal Court had been due to hear evidence and submissions in relation to Brady's activities during what the prosecution has alleged was a campaign of witness intimidation during his trial in 2020.

The three-judge, non-jury court had also been expected to deliver its verdict in relation to Dean Byrne, who denies conspiring with Brady to pervert the course of justice. Mr Justice Paul Burns, presiding, said the verdict in relation to Byrne is not yet ready.

He adjourned both matters to June 14.

Dean Byrne (30) from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin is accused of conspiring with Aaron Brady in Mountjoy Prison between April 8, 2020 and June 22, 2020 to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence at Brady's murder trial, a course of conduct which had a tendency to and which was intended to pervert the course of justice. He has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to the charge.

In August 2020, Brady (33) formerly of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh was convicted by a jury of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe during a credit union robbery at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth on January 25, 2013.

Earlier this year Brady pleaded guilty to a charge that on a date between February 20 and May 7, 2020, within the State, he video recorded the playing of an interview between Ronan Flynn, a witness at his trial, and An Garda Siochana, thus embarking on a course of conduct intended to pervert the course of justice. 

Segments of the recording of Mr Flynn's statement were later uploaded to social media with text calling him a "tout" and claiming he had criminal charges against him dropped in return for his testimony. Mr Flynn did not come forward to give evidence at Brady's trial.

Brady is charged with a further count of conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade Mr Cahill not to testify at the same trial. Brady did not enter a plea in relation to that count but prosecution counsel Lorcan Staines SC said it should be taken into account at sentencing.