Ireland

Aaron Brady faces minimum 40 year sentence for murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe

Aaron Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen was found guilty of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques
Aaron Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen was found guilty of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques Aaron Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen was found guilty of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques

Aaron Brady (29) has been found guilty by a majority verdict of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot dead while on active duty during an armed raid at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth in 2013.

The jury agreed 11-1 in favour of the capital murder verdict after 22 hours of deliberation. He faces a minmum 40-year prison term.

Presiding Judge Mr Justice Michael White thanked the jury on behalf of the people of Ireland for their long service in the trial, which has been taking place since January.

He said: "You have given up your time during a life-threatening pandemic and you have all done the State some service.

"Thanks for your patience during this long trial."

The charge of capital murder includes an aggravating factor such as murdering a police officer while on duty.

Brady, from New Road, Crossmaglen, had been convicted earlier this week of robbing around €7,000 in cash and cheques outside Lordship Credit Union.

Garda Representative Association president Jim Mulligan said no verdict or sentence can ever replace murdered detective Adrian Donohoe.

"Our first thoughts are with the family of Adrian Donohoe. No verdict and no sentence can ever replace the life taken from them," he said.

"Adrian's two children, who are still young, will never get their father back. Caroline, Adrian's wife, will never get her husband back.

"We can only hope that today's verdict begins the process of bringing healing and closure to Adrian's family.

"We are conscious of other suspects being sought in connection with the incident in which Adrian was murdered and we fervently hope they too will be brought to justice.

"Adrian was a Detective Garda from a family steeped in Garda tradition. Our thoughts are with them and with Adrian's Garda colleagues who lost a great workmate and a great friend on that fateful night seven-and-half years ago.

"We also extend our thoughts to the community Adrian served; and to his GAA colleagues in Co Louth and in his home county of Cavan, whom he represented with distinction as an Under-21 Inter-County player."

Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at a credit union in Co Louth

Detective Mangan said the Department of Homeland Security in the US provided invaluable and critical assistance to aid the investigation into the murder of Detective Donohoe.

He said: "This unprecedented co-operation greatly assisted us as investigators.

"We are grateful to current and retired gardai and detectives who put their lives on hold to assist the investigation and to get us to this point. Communities on both sides of the border have provided support to us throughout the investigation.

"Today is a positive step with the conviction of Aaron Brady for the robbery and capital murder of Detective Adrian Donohoe. It is an important step to ensure all who were involved in his death will be brought to justice."

Detective Mangan continued: "We will never cease in our quest to bring accountability to bear on those who murdered Adrian. We owe that to Adrian's family, to his friends and to the people of Ireland."

He said Gardaí are renewing their appeal so that anyone with any information regarding the murder investigation should come forward.

"They should come forward and make contact with us in confidence," he said.

"Anyone who assisted these people in the immediate crime or offered comfort to those who were involved, will face justice," he said.

Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey said other people linked to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe will be brought to justice.

Mr Twomey said: "The investigation continues and there were other people involved in this horrific crime. You will be brought to justice and we will make every effort and leave no stone unturned. I want to make an appeal and reiterate that no society can tolerate crimes of this nature. We as a law enforcement agency will do everything we can to work to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"I also want to make an appeal to the people who committed the crime - we will be knocking on your door and we will make sure that you pay for this horrendous act."

Justice Minister Helen McEntee commended Gardaí for their "determined, persistent and painstaking investigation".

"My hope, now that a person has been brought to justice for an unspeakably callous act committed against a decent and honourable Garda, working in the course of his duty to protect his community, is that this can bring some element of comfort to Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's wife and family, his many friends and loyal colleagues.

"I know too that the investigation will continue relentlessly so that others responsible for the dreadful events that night may also be brought to justice," she said.