Aaron Brady has been handed the mandatory life sentence for the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.
The 29-year-old, from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, shot Detective Donohoe from close range during an armed robbery outside a credit union in County Louth in 2013.
BREAKING ⚖️ Aaron Brady (29) has been handed the mandatory life sentence for the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. He will have to serve at least 40 years in prison. He has already instructed his lawyers to appeal his conviction.
— Frank Greaney (@FrankGreaney) October 14, 2020
Detective Donohoe’s wife Caroline was the one who identified her husband’s body at the credit union on the night of January 25th 2013.
In her victim impact statement today, she said it breaks her heart every time she passes the credit union.
She said their life together was just perfect until just “58 senseless seconds” changed everything forever.
Aaron Brady was the one who pulled the trigger from close range that night and he will now have to serve a minimum of 40 years in prison for it.
He was also handed a 14-year concurrent sentence for the robbery of €7,000 from a credit union worker.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris delivering an update on the COVID-19 lockdown, 28-03-2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsIn a statement, the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said Detective Garda Donohoe was shot and murdered while attempting to protect the people of Louth.
He noted that Brady was just one member of a criminal gang on the day and Gardaí remain committed to bringing all those involved in to justice.
“My thoughts and those of the Garda organisation are once again today with Adrian Donohoe’s family,” he said.
“We in An Garda Síochána will continue to support the family and the friends and colleagues of Adrian.
“An Garda Siochana's resolve to bring all the participants in this crime to justice remains firm and the investigation team at Dundalk will continue to be supported by the resources of the wider organisation.”
30/07/2019.CCJ court. Pictured is Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin City Centre today.Photo:Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ieBefore sentencing him, Mr Justice Michael White described Detective Donohoe as a “dedicated Garda” who was rooted in his community and committed to his vocation as a police officer.
He described Aaron Brady’s behaviour in the lead up to the robbery and his nonchalant visit to his girlfriend after he killed Detective Donohoe as “difficult for the court to comprehend.”
Reporting from Frank Greaney
