Garda killer pleads guilty to perverting course of justice

Aaron Brady, who shot and killed Det Gda Adrian Donohoe, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice during his murder trial in 2020.

At a Special Criminal Court hearing this afternoon Brady accepted that he was responsible for recording footage of an interview between gardai and Ronan Flynn, a witness who told gardai he had heard Brady admit to shooting Det Gda Donohoe three times.

The video was later posted on social media accusing Mr Flynn of "touting" and calling him a "rat".

Mr Flynn did not give evidence at Brady's trial and Mr Justice Michael White, who oversaw the murder trial, described the release of the footage as "the most outrageous contempt of court" and a clear attempt to intimidate Flynn and other witnesses.

Brady is charged with a further count of conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade a State witness 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.

Following today's arraignment Mr Justice Paul Burns, presiding in the three-judge court, refused an application from Brady's lawyers to prevent media reporting Brady's guilty plea. Mr Justice Burns adjourned sentencing to May 29. 

Dean Byrne (30) from Cabra Park, Phibsborough, Dublin is due to go on trial for the conspiracy charge this afternoon.

Brady (33), formerly of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh was convicted by a jury in 2020 of the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Jenkinstown, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013.

He is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years.