Brady found guilty of involvement in robbery that led to killing of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe

Aaron Brady has been found guilty of involvement in the robbery that led to Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe being shot dead.

The jury of five men and seven women will continue their deliberations tomorrow on the charge of capital murder which Mr Brady has denied.

At 13.33 the foreman of the jury announced that they had reached a unanimous verdict on count number two relating to the robbery. Following the verdict Mr Justice Michael White said he will accept a majority verdict in relation to the capital murder charge if at least ten of them agree. He asked the jury to return tomorrow (Tuesday) to continue considering their verdict.

Mr Brady had denied involvement in the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth on January 25, 2013. He has also pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe at the same location during the robbery.

Mr Brady (29) of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh had denied involvement in the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth on January 25, 2013. He has also pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe at the same location during the course of the robbery.

During the trial the jury heard that four men jumped over a wall surrounding the credit union car park as employees prepared to leave with the day's takings from several rural credit unions.

The prosecution has alleged that Mr Brady was the gunman who fired a single shot that fatally wounded the detective. Mr Brady told the trial that he was at a diesel laundering yard on Concession Road in south Armagh when the robbery took place.

Mr Justice White has previously told the trial that there are several possible verdicts in relation to the capital murder charge. If they are satisfied that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Brady was the gunman, for capital murder it must also be proven that he knew he was shooting a member of An Garda Siochana acting in accordance with his duty or was reckless as to whether it was a garda. If they accept that he was the shooter but are not satisfied that capital murder is proven they can find him guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter.

Manslaughter, the judge said, is an unlawful killing where the accused person did not intend to kill or cause serious injury. The defence raised the possibility of manslaughter on the grounds that the shooter may have been attempting to fire a warning shot.

Photo: Det Garda Adrian Donohoe who was killed outside Lordship Credit Union in 2013.