Donohoe murder detective denies investigation missed lines of inquiry
A SENIOR detective has rejected a claim that the Adrian Donohoe murder investigation was approached with tunnel vision and that lines of inquiry weren’t followed up on, the trial has heard.
Pat Marry, now retired, was being cross-examined in relation to inquiries carried out into the movements of a suspected fuel launderer who was in phone contact with Aaron Brady on the night of the murder.
The jury previously heard that the accused, in his formal alibi, said he was moving laundered diesel cubes in a yard in south Armagh at the time of the murder.
Aaron Brady has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adrian Donohoe (41), who was then a member of An Garda Síochána acting in the course of his duty, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013.
Mr Brady (29), of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies the robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date.
Defence counsel Michael O’Higgins put it to the retired detective inspector there were a number of pieces of information relating to the movements of an alleged fuel launderer on the day of the robbery. This man was interviewed a month later but “declined to engage” with gardaí about his movements that night, Mr Marry told the court.
Counsel put it to Mr Marry that there had been “screamingly obvious lines of inquiry which ought to have been followed up in this case” but weren’t.
The retired officer said he disagreed with this.
Mr O’Higgins put it to the witness that anybody with an understanding of the investigation would reach the same conclusion.
Mr Marry said he “totally disagreed” with this and that it was an “unfair comment”.
The trial continues.