Gda Adrian murder 'spelt the end for búrglary car plot'

Trial of pair told 'creeper raids' ended after huge Garda inquiry

A PLOT to break into homes so a gang could steal car keys ended due to an “enormous inquiry” after the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday. 

Lorcan Staines, who is prosecuting Brendan Treanor, 34, and 32-year-old James Flynn, for their alleged role in the conspiracy, said the group were engaged in a “creeper burglary”.

He added when they had spotted a car they wanted, they would “pop” the lock to the front door of the house, remove the keys and flee with the car.

Mr Staines said a VW Passat stolen in the final creeper burglary in Clogherhead, Co Louth, in January 2013 was used in the robbery at Lordship Credit Union in which Det Gda Donohoe was shot and killed.

Counsel added continuing after that would not be possible due to the “enormous Garda investigation” and because Flynn and Aaron Brady, who has been convicted of murdering Det Gda Donohoe, moved to America.

Mr Staines said the prosecution would ask the court to draw inferences from phone contacts around the times of the burglaries between Flynn, Treanor and Brady.

He added inferences could also be drawn from the location of the cell sites their phones pinged off when the raids happened.

 EVIDENCE

Counsel said evidence will be a satnav that had been in one stolen car was found by gardai when they searched Flynn’s father Eugene Flynn Snr at Dublin Airport in 2015.