New arrest in Donohoe trial witness intimidation investigation



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An inmate has been arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation in connection with the Adrian Donohoe murder trial.

The man is currently detained at Portlaoise Garda station.

He is the seventh person to be arrested as part of a garda investigation established after several witnesses did not testify during the trial.

A man in his 50s who was arrested yesterday has been released without charge and a file will be sent to the Director of the Public Ministry.

Garda headquarters said today that officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating allegations of witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice and the illegal use of mobile phones in the prison setting in connection with the recent trial by murder of Adrian Donohoe.

Detective Garda Donohoe was shot and killed while on duty escort for the delivery of cash from four local credit unions in Lordship, Co Louth on January 25, 2013.

Last month, Aaron Brady was sentenced to life in prison for the capital murder of Det Donohoe and must serve the prescribed minimum of 40 years.

He was also sentenced to 14 years for armed robbery.

Following the conviction, it emerged that a video of a witness giving a statement about Brady to Gardaí circulated on social media with a text calling him a “rat” and accusing him of “promoting” his friends.

The witness did not appear to testify.

He was one of the five witnesses who did not testify at the trial during which there were repeated allegations that the witnesses were being subjected to interference and intimidation.

Judge Michael White called it “the most scandalous contempt of court” he had seen in his career.



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