Aaron Brady to go on trial for attempting to pervert course of justice

Convicted murderer Aaron Brady and another man are to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice during Brady’s own trial.

The 31-year-old was convicted in 2020 of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in Co Louth in 2013. He was shot dead while on duty at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan during a robbery by an armed gang.

Brady, who denied the murder, was handed a life sentence after being found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury in August 2020.

Brady (31), of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, and Dean Byrne (29), of Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, are accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice during the trial, which ran from January to August 2020.

At the Special Criminal Court on Monday, State solicitor Susan Hudson made a successful application to have the cases heard before the three-judge, non-jury court.

The Special Criminal Court can hear certain cases where the Director of Public Prosecutions certifies that the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice and the preservation of public peace and order.

Brady is accused of conspiring with Byrne at Mountjoy Prison to attempt to persuade Daniel Cahill, a prosecution witness in his trial, not to give evidence, with the intention of perverting the course of public justice, between April 8th and June 22nd, 2020. Byrne is accused of conspiring with Brady in attempting to persuade Mr Cahill not to give evidence in Brady’s trial at the same location between the same dates.

It is also alleged that on a date unknown between February 20th and May 7th, 2020, Brady recorded the playing of a video-recorded witness interview between Ronan Flynn and gardaí, which it is alleged is “a course of conduct which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice”.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt sitting with Judge Marie Keane and Judge Sarah Berkeley, adjourned the matter for hearing before the Special Criminal Court again on June 2nd.