Man, 27, faces trial over garda murder
A MAN accused of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in a shooting in 2013 has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.
Aaron Brady, 27, from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh, was served with a book of evidence when he appeared before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court yesterday .
Mr Brady had earlier been charged with murdering a member of An Garda Síochána in the course of his duty at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co. Louth, on January 25, 2013.
Det. Garda Donohoe, 41, a married father of two, had gone to the credit union to provide a cash escort to staff bringing money to a night safe.
He was shot dead in the course of a botched robbery.
Garda Donohoe was the first officer to be shot dead in the line of duty since 1996, and was given a full State funeral.
Mr Brady was arrested in Dublin on February 25 and was detained for a week at Dundalk Garda station under the provisions of section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
He was charged on March 4 and remanded in custody following an appearance before Dundalk District Court.
At his first hearing, Det. Inspector Patrick Marry said when Mr Brady was charged with the murder, he replied: ‘I strongly deny any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.’
Yesterday, Mr Brady appeared at Cloverhill District Court, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers. He said ‘morning judge’ as he entered the court, but remained silent for the rest of the hearing.
A four-volume book of evidence was served on him in court by Det. Sergeant Mark Philips.
It was Mr Brady’s seventh hearing since being charged earlier this year.
Judge Blake noted the DPP was requesting that Mr Brady would be returned for trial to the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court on the single charge in the book of evidence.
Judge Blake warned him that if he intended to use an alibi in his defence he must tell the State solicitor for Co. Louth, Fergus Mullen, within 14 days.
He told him he was sending him forward for trial, in custody, to the next term of the Central Criminal Court, which begins in October.
He acceded to a request from defence counsel Conor Fegan to grant legal aid to include representation of junior and senior counsel representation at the trial.
Judge Blake also directed the prosecution to furnish the defence with copies of video evidence.
Bail can only be granted by the High Court in murder cases.