Man appears in court in connection with robbery of Lordship Credit Union in 2013

News

A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the robbery of Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth in January 2013, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead.

James Flynn (31), with an address at Ravens Glen in Newry, Co Down, was arrested at Dublin Airport after being extradited back to Ireland from the UK.

He appeared at a sitting of Dublin District Court yesterday morning before Judge Paul Kelly.

Detective Garda Gareth Kenna from Dundalk Garda Station told the court that he arrested Mr Flynn on the south apron at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport.

He was taken to Dublin Airport Garda Station where he was charged with two offences and cautioned.

Mr Flynn is charged with robbery of €7,000 in cash and cheques at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth on January 25 2013 and conspiracy to commit burglaries between September 11 2012 and January 23 2013.

In reply to the first charge, Det Garda Kenna told the court Mr Flynn said: "I strongly deny the charge."

He also said: "I wasn't present in the car park on the 25th January. I am a businessman who was running a successful business in the USA from 2011."

In response to the second charge, Mr Flynn replied: "I strongly deny this charge."

The accused did not apply for bail. A solicitor representing the state said "the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure effective administration of justice" and he applied for the accused to be "sent forward to a sitting of a Special Criminal Court".

No date has yet been set.

In October 2020, Aaron Brady, of New Road, Crossmaglen in Co Armagh, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was shot dead during the raid.