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Aaron Brady has been sentenced to life in prison and will serve a minimum of 40 years in prison for the murder of Garda Detective Adrian Donohoe.
Det Garda Donohoe, a 41-year-old married father of two, was shot and killed during a robbery shortly after arriving at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, Friday night, January 25, 2013.
The married father of a Brady was found guilty of the capital murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe by an 11 to one majority jury verdict on August 11.
Garda Detective Adrian Donohoe, who was shot and killed on January 25, 2013.
The 29-year-old with a last New Road address, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh was also convicted for his involvement in the € 7,000 theft at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth on January 25, 2013.
He will serve a 14-year sentence for that crime at the same time.
By issuing a mandatory life sentence to Brady, Judge Michael White said that Brady had “terrorized” his victims.
Det Garda Donohoe’s parents have said that their son’s murder was “a loss of a good man for such an evil and senseless act.”
Speaking at the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Hugh and Peggy Donohoe said their son deserved the opportunity to live to old age and not be “knocked down in such a brutal way.”
In a written statement read by their son Alan, they said: “We visit his grave every week, which is a comfort, but it is not a place for him. He should be here with us living his life. “
Mary Donohoe said her brother had a “strong sense of duty.”
“He stood up for what is right,” she said, adding that the family had been “distraught” since his murder. She said that all they had left now were photos.
“I don’t think Aaron Brady will ever understand what he’s done to our family,” he told the court.
Det Donohoe’s wife, Caroline Donohoe, also gave a victim impact statement that was read in Central Criminal Court.
“There are absolutely no words that can adequately express the impact that the events of January 25, 2013 had on my life and on the lives of my children and my extended family, colleagues and friends and everyone who loved Adrian,” he said. Mrs. Donohoe.
Caroline Donohoe, widow of Garda Detective Adrian Donohoe, at his funeral in Dundalk, Co Louth on January 30, 2013. File Photo: Julien Behal / PA Wire
“I will never fully recover from what I had to see in Lordship … My heart breaks every time I pass there and at some point I can’t get the images out of my mind for hours.”
‘I’ll kill you’
Det Garda Joe Ryan, who was with Det Garda Donohoe when he was shot and killed, was also expected to inform the court about the impact of the attack on his life.
Mr. Ryan said earlier in trial that he was threatened the night of the murder by a gunman who told him not to move or “I’m going to kill you, I’m going to shoot you.”
Lorcan Staines SC, for the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), asked the trial judge, Judge Michael White, to allow an overflow court for the sentencing hearing. It meant that the process was transmitted to the overflow court of the Criminal Justice Courts.
The broadcast of the court hearing was also arranged at the Dundalk Garda station for Det Garda Donohoe colleagues to view while arrangements were made for interested parties in the UK and Spain to also view the proceedings via a link from video.
Det Garda Donohoe and his colleague, Det Garda Ryan, were providing an armed escort for the Credit Union staff to carry money to a night safe.
Brady was part of a five-man gang lurking in the credit union parking lot to steal cash. Four of the gang members came out from behind a wall in the parking lot and Brady ran over to Det Garda Donohoe and fatally shot him.
After the murder, Brady fled to the United States. He was arrested in New York in May 2017. Brady was deported to Ireland days later and, once back in Ireland, was convicted of a series of crimes committed in Dundalk, Co Louth, in October 2012, including dangerous driving. and criminal damages.
He was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty. When that sentence was served, he had been charged with the murder of Det Garda Donohoe and was in pre-trial detention pending his trial, which began in January.
Attempted intimidation of witnesses was a major factor during Brady’s trial. The prosecution said it was aware of “very serious” but unsuccessful attempts to intimidate its key witness.
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