Brady lawyers ‘wanted to show photo of witness’s penis’

DEFENCE lawyers for Aaron Brady wanted to show his murder trial jury a picture of a key prosecution witness with his penis exposed, a barrister for the State has told the Court of Appeal.

Brendan Grehan, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued yesterday that the ‘shoddy manner’ in which voluntary witness Daniel Cahill – who gave testimony via video link from New York – was treated ‘would make one wonder why anyone would ever do anything but look the other way when asked to come and give evidence in court’.

Father-of-one Brady, 32 – who was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 40 years for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co. Louth on January 25, 2013 – is bidding to overturn his conviction before the three-judge appeals court.

Yesterday, Justin McQuade, counsel for Brady, said the trial prosecution was late in disclosing a US police report on the discovery of steroids at Mr Cahill’s home, until after he had given evidence. He said this contained information contradictory of evidence given by a US Homeland Security officer and Mr Cahill, rendering the trial unfair.

Mr Grehan responded that the defence had wanted to put a picture of Mr Cahill’s penis on the screen in front of the jury ‘to humiliate and embarrass a witness’.

He also said the court’s duty to protect a witness had been breached in Mr Cahill’s case.

The appeal briefly continues today before Judge John Edwards, presiding, sitting with Judge Isobel Kennedy and Judge Tara Burns.