Concerns raised over impact from perverting the course of justice trial

Brady has appealed his conviction for the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe

Eoin Reynolds

Lawyers for Aaron Brady have raised a concern about publicity arising from a trial that was due to begin today (Monday) in which he is accused of perverting the course of justice.

Brady was convicted of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Jenkinstown, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013.

Michael O'Higgins SC, for Brady, told the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court that Brady is still awaiting the outcome of an appeal, heard last October, against his conviction for murdering Det Gda Donohoe. If the appeal is successful, Mr O'Higgins said his client would likely face a retrial at the Central Criminal Court. A trial in that court would be held before a jury rather than a panel of professional judges. Mr O'Higgins said he has a "concern that the publicity generated in this trial would be damaging to jurors in that case".

Mr O'Higgins said he would be making an application before the court in which he will rely on the case of The Irish Times versus Murphy, a seminal judgment on media reporting of court proceedings.

Brady's trial for perverting the course of justice was due to go ahead today, but was adjourned to tomorrow to allow the defence time to consider additional evidence that has been served in recent days.

Brady and his co-accused Dean Byrne are charged with conspiring to persuade a State witness not to testify during Brady's trial for the 2013 murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

Brady (33) of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh and Dean Byrne (30) from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin, are accused of conspiring to persuade prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to give evidence in order to pervert the course of justice between April 8, 2020, and June 22, 2020.

Brady is also accused of recording the playing of a video of a witness being interviewed by gardaí, thus embarking upon a course to pervert the course of public justice between February 20, 2020 and May 7, 2020.

In August 2020 Brady was convicted of murdering Detective Garda Donohoe, a garda acting in accordance with his duties. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years to be served.