Murder of Adrian Donohoe

Adrian Donohoe
Lordship Credit Union, the site where the attack occurred.
Born14 January 1972
Kilnaleck, County Cavan, Ireland
Died25 January 2013 (aged 41)
Bellurgan, County Louth, Ireland
Police career
DepartmentGarda Síochána
Service years1994–2013 (19 years)
RankDetective Garda
Badge no.26222F

Adrian Donohoe (14 January 1972 – 25 January 2013) was an Irish detective in the Garda Síochána (Irish police) based at Dundalk Garda Station in County Louth, who was fatally shot in Bellurgan (near Jenkinstown, County Louth) on 25 January 2013 during a robbery by an armed gang of five people on a credit union.[1] He was the first garda officer to be murdered in the line of duty since 1996, and was afforded a full state funeral.

On 4 March 2018 at Dundalk District Court, 27-year-old Aaron Brady from New Road, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, was charged with Donohoe's murder and plead not guilty.[2] Brady's trial began at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on 28 January 2020.[3]

On 12 August 2020, 29-year-old Aaron Brady was found guilty of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and was sentenced to the mandatory term of 40 years imprisonment. Brady was also sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for robbery at Lordship Credit Union.[4][5]

In July 2021, 33-year-old Brendan Treanor from Dundalk was charged with the armed robbery of the Lordship credit union on the night Donohoe was murdered.[6]

Also in July 2021, James Patrick Gerard Flynn or "Jimmy Flynn", 30, originally from South Armagh was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in London on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Gardai, after the Director of Public Prosecutions approved charging Flynn with armed robbery of the credit union on the night Donohoe was murdered. It is reported Flynn had spent time in Boston after Donohoe's murder and was described as convicted murderer Aaron Brady's "best friend".[7][8]

Jimmy Flynn and Brendan Treanor went on trial in the Special Criminal Court in February 2023, charged with the robbery of the credit union in Lordship and also with conspiracy to enter residential premises with the intention of stealing car keys.[9][10][11] Legal proceedings ended in May 2023 after 55 days of legal argument, with verdicts due to be delivered in September 2023.[12]

On 11 September 2023, James Flynn was found guilty of breaking into a house and stealing the keys of a car which was later used in the robbery of Lordship Credit Union and the capital murder of Adrian Donohoe. Flynn was found not guilty of the additional charge of robbery of €7,000 at the Credit Union. Brendan Treanor was found not guilty of both charges, however judge Mr Justice Hunt stated there was "clear evidence that establishes that Treanor is a member of a criminal gang along with others and was involved before during and after the robbery", but that charges of membership of a criminal gang had not been brought before the court. Flynn was remanded in custody for sentencing in November 2023.[13]

  1. ^ "Detective Garda killed in Co Louth shooting". 25 January 2013. RTÉ News. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Adrian Donohoe: Crossmaglen man charged with murder". BBC News. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  3. ^ Reynolds, Paul (28 January 2020). "Man on trial for murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe". Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  4. ^ Connor, Dyane (12 August 2020). "Aaron Brady found guilty of capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  5. ^ Reynolds, Eoin (12 August 2020). "Aaron Brady has been found guilty of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Man appears in court charged over robbery at Lordship Credit Union". RTE News. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ^ O'Toole, Michael (17 July 2021). "Pal of Aaron Brady faces extradition from London to face charges over Garda Adrian Donohoe murder". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Man refused bail following extradition warrant relating to Adrian Donohoe case". thejournal.ie. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Credit union robbery suspect granted free legal aid one week after offering £1m in bail sureties". 26 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Two men to go on trial next week in connection with 2013 Lordship Credit Union heist". 27 January 2023.
  11. ^ "'Enormous garda investigation' in wake of Adrian Donohoe murder uncovered 'creeper' car burglary scheme". 1 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Verdicts in Lordship Credit Union robbery trial to be delivered in September". 19 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Flynn guilty of charge linked to Lordship robbery, Treanor acquitted". RTE News. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.