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AARON BRADY HAS been sentenced to life in prison for the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.
Under the Criminal Justice Act 1990 the judge was required to state that Brady must serve a minimum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
Mr Justice White also sentenced Brady to 14 years for robbery, a sentence that will run concurrently with the life sentence.
Brady was found guilty by an 11 to one majority jury verdict on 11 August this year following trial.
He was sentenced today in the Central Criminal Court. Special arrangements were made to allow gardaí at Dundalk Garda Station and others to watch the proceedings remotely.
Adrian Donohoe was on active duty when he was killed on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
Brady was last month convicted of involvement in the robbery of €7,000 at the Credit Union on this date.
Speaking at a sentence hearing for her husband’s murderer, Caroline Donohoe said no words can express the impact on her life, the lives of her children and their family, colleagues and friends who all loved Adrian.
“We had a loving, happy family, but in just 58 senseless seconds everything changed forever,” she told the Central Criminal Court today.
She visited the scene less than an hour after the shooting and identified her husband’s body.
“I will never recover fully from what I had to see,” she said, adding: “My heart breaks every time I pass there and sometimes I can’t get the images out of my mind for hours. Nothing and nobody will ever replace Adrian in our home.”
Detective Garda Donohoe’s parents Hugh and Peggy, in a written statement read by their son Alan, said the murder was “a waste of a good man for such an evil and pointless act”.
They added: “We visit his grave every week, which is some comfort, but it’s no place for him. He should be here with us living his life.”
Garda response
In a statement released after the sentencing, An Garda Síochána said that today “has been another traumatic step” for Adrian Donohoe’s family, friends and Garda colleagues.
“Aaron Brady was just one member of a criminal gang on that day. This criminal investigation remains live as the other members of that gang remain to be brought before the courts; the commitment and tenacity of the investigation team based at Dundalk Garda Station to bring all suspects to justice remains steadfast.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “My thoughts and those of the Garda Organisation are once again today with Adrian Donohoe’s family.
“We in An Garda Síochána will continue to support the family, and the friends and colleagues of Adrian. An Garda Síochána’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.”
An Garda Síochána issued an appeal to any person with information about the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe to come forward to detectives with that information. The investigation team can be contacted at Dundalk Garda Station on 042 9388400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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Some good news for once
@Jack Johnson:
Hope he serves every second
@Michael Clinton: Apparently for some reason HE doesn’t qualify for the same exaltation as some of the previous Garda murders that received a standing ovation at a certain Ard Feish!
@John Mc Donagh: oh snap
@NotaWarder: Not a chance—that shameful episode should never be forgotten!
@John Mc Donagh:
I know you are trying to get a rise and stir it up but I am not biting.
All murders committed on the island of Ireland have to be condemned and those that committed them jailed for the rest of their lives.
@Michael Clinton: —-And then my friend why did the murderers of Garda Gerry McCabe get such adulation at the S/F Ard Fheis ? Just a simple question!
@John Mc Donagh:
I was not there and I don’t know.
There is a simple answer.
Now THAT is what I call a prison sentence!!!
@The God Of All Nerds: finally a good judge
@Dav Nagle: the Judge had no choice , compulsory sentence.
@Dav Nagle: Capital murder carries a life sentence with a minimum of 40yrs. Its just a pity this guy wasn’t hit with a consecutive sentence for the robbery charge, to be served on completion of the murder sentence.
@Tommy Roche: He is 48, so chances are he won’t need the other 11 to see out the rest of his life inside.
Good. Hope he rots.
@LangerDan: The gembots were protesting against Donohue’s wife as she left the court. Sick people.
@LangerDan: she needs to be put in a cell with him
Good and loose the key. He needs to sit for the whole 40 years
@Corinne Wilson Muller: i take it you just read the headline,he got 54 year, 40 for murder and 14 years for armed robbery,so 40 + 14 = 54
@James Rowan: The 14 were concurrent so still 40 years
@James Rowan: I take it you missed the word concurrently
@HectorPickaxe: I hate that word when put into a sentence
@James Rowan: That’s what you get for being a mouth piece.
Garda Donohoes family will never be released from this pain, feel so so sad for them.
Great news
For killing one of our Gardai in cold blood, for a few quid, it’s difficult to have any sympathy. But it won’t be exactly a Russian gulag for him. Many countries would execute him for murdering a front line officer.
@Paul Whitehead: aren’t we lucky we moved away from the capital punishment system.
@barry moore: much more painful having to sit in prison waiting for the time to pass slowly.
@barry moore: “much more painful having to sit in prison waiting for the time to pass slowly.”
Much more expensive then a length of rope though.
@Will: i agree but its not always about the cost. Garda Donohoe’s family have to live with what he done. He doesn’t deserve to have an easy way out.
@barry moore: “He doesn’t deserve to have an easy way out.”
Good point. I do hope it’s a long 40 years.
@Will: He probably won’t make 40 years – he’s 48 now.
Made my day!
Every murder should carry a minimum sentence of 40 years. I hope this waste of oxygen is tormented for every day of his.
Great.
More of this type of sentencing for murders please!
Justice has been done, delighted for Garda Donoghues family, friends and colleagues, hopefully this offers some solice , excellent work by Gardai in getting this conviction.
Punishment fits the crime
Happy days.
One bit of good news at least.
Great day for justice.
Framed? That head case needs to be in with him.
Great news, let’s hope that in 40 years time the acting justice minister keeps him locked up.
Hope he rots. A proper sentence for a despicable act
About time a descent prison sentence is handed down. Great news.
That is good enough for that man .
He took away a happy family broke the children’s heart
Great news, potty we didnt have the eletric chair for crimes like this.
Excellent!!!!
I hope he serves the complete sentence and has a bad time in jail .
Judge here has sentenced very well, 55 yrs inside he won’t last. S c u m b a g he is
@Annette: Only 40 yrs, the Robbery sentence is concurrent not consecutive unfortunately.
@Mick.: hopefully they can make a case for witness intimidation; any sentence for that would be consecutive.
Good news day…..hope he serves the full 40 years
Well done judge now tell all your colleagues how to sentence.
Great, he deserves it. Why can’t this sentence be handed down for all murderers?
@Forest Hump:
Because he was convicted of capitol murder, not just murder
Capital murder trials only take place where the victim was an on-duty garda or prison officer.
What about the rest of the gang ? Apparently the Gardai know who and where they are.
@Barry Teehan: they’re still being investigated.
That is good enough for that man .
He took away a happy family broke the children’s heart
That is good enough for that man .
He took away a happy family broke the children’s heart
I’m sure his legal team are preparing for an appeal already, hope he rots in prison
People that are taking drugs think twice before u do it again .its not worth it .
@Tadhg O’shaughnessy: Thanks Elvis, very wise words.
That is good enough for that man .
He took away a happy family broke the children’s heart
Great news
That is good enough for that man .
He took away a happy family broke the children’s heart
Good enough for him
He murdered a good man.
Perhaps I’m not —At least not bright enough to understand why one Garda’s murderers who emptied a full magazine from an A.K47 into a serving Garda at point blank range should be revered and why another thug who blew the head off a serving Garda should be reviled. Perhaps a brilliant brainbox like yourself could provide the answer?
8 inoffensive comments removed I wonder why?
8 inoffensive comments removed. I wonder why?
@John Mc Donagh: Because you’re not very bright?
@John Mc Donagh: My comment was one of those that was removed I would love to know why
@EFitz66: Could I suggest that the S/F minions were unhappy with it!
Yay!!!
I hope he rots for the nxt 40 years. And I hope that crowd protesting outside get theirs 2. Especially that Doherty 1.
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