Emotional scenes in court as Brady found guilty
There were emotional scenes amongst Donohoe family members as Aaron Brady was today found guilty of the capital murder by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court.
The 29-year-old with an address at New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh will be sentenced on October 12. Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution told Mr Justice Michael White that the is obliged to impose a life sentence for murder and as the jury found him guilty of capital murder he must specify that Brady serve not less than 40 years.
The jury returned to Court 19 in the Criminal Courts of Justice at 12pm today having spent 20 hours and two minutes considering their verdicts since last Thursday. Sitting at the back of the court, Garda Adrian Donohoe's sister and two brothers sat patiently as the jury filed into the courtroom. His wife, Caroline Donohoe, sat alone in the body of the court, two rows in front of her relatives.
Brady, who was wearing a grey suit and red tie, sat in the dock staring straight ahead. His father and sister were the only members of his family in court as the verdict was read out and sat together directly behind him.
As the guilty verdict was announced, Brady hung his head and stared into the distance. He closed his eyes for a moment but made no reaction as the judge thanked the jury for their dedication to the case. His face was pale as the reality of what he had just heard sunk in.
The brothers and sister of the late detective became emotional and wept silently.
When the jurors left the courtroom, Mr Justice Michael White said the court would rise for 15 minutes. Within seconds, Brady left the dock and walked to the cell area without engaging with his father or sister, who have both been with him throughout the trial. Brady's legal team then followed him into the holding area.
As the courtroom began to empty out, Caroline Donohoe embraced the two solicitors for the State. She looked relieved as she touched fists with Detective Inspector Martin Beggy. One of the brothers of the late detective wiped away tears as he spoke to gardaí within the confines of the court and the prosecution barristers.
Whilst groups of people gathered outside the courtroom, Brady's father and sister sat alone in their seats in the courtroom gathering their thoughts. Moments later, the defence team was seen sitting with Brady's family at the back of the court to discuss the outcome of the case. Brady's sister could be heard crying during the brief conversation.
Family members of the detective and supporters of the family looked relieved.
When Mr Grehan told the trial judge that he was obliged to impose a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years, Brady listened intently but gave no reaction.
Last Monday Brady was found guilty of involvement in the robbery that led to Det Gda Donohoe being shot dead. Brady's father was in court at the time and shook his head in disagreement as the jury left court to continue their deliberations on the first count. Before Brady returned to the holding cell that day, he embraced his father in a big hug. However, there was no such reaction from Brady today.