Convicted of the 2013 murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, Aaron Brady(29) began his 40-year sentence in Mountjoy last night. Brady is the first person in 35 years to be convicted of capital murder, the most serious of Ireland’s crimes and carrying the heaviest of sentences.
Det Garda Donohoe was shot at close range with a pump-action shotgun shortly after his arrival at Lordship Credit Union in Co. Louth on the evening of Friday Jan 25th, 2013. He and his Garda colleague were there to provide an armed escort to Credit Union staff carrying money to a nightsafe.
Brady, part of a five-man gang, stepped out of hiding and shot Garda Donohoe as he emerged from his car, killing the 41-year old married father of two instantly. In her victim impact statement, Caroline Donohoe, the detective’s wife said, “We had a loving happy family, but in just 58 seconds everything changed forever.” At the sentencing hearing, refering to her visit to the scene some hours after her husband’s murder, Ms. Donohoe said, “I will never fully recover from what I had to see. 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.”
Brady, a married father of one, with an address in Crossmaglen Co. Armagh is looking at serving a minimum of 27.5 years with time off for good behaviour and time already served. Brady’s legal team has signalled his intention to appeal. However, he may face additional days in court as Garda sources suggest that they believe he was behind the conspiracy that saw footage of witness statements distributed on social media.
The Garda investigation into the other four men suspected of involvement in the robbery of the Credit Union and the murder of Garda Donohoe continues. Garda sources state that the investigation has been boosted by Brady’s conviction.
