A convicted garda killer has admitted perverting the course of justice during his murder trial by playing the recording of a witness being interviewed by gardaí.
Aaron Brady, who is serving life with a minimum of 40 years for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohue 11 years ago, pleaded guilty to the offence at the Special Criminal Court.
A second charge of conspiring to persuade another prosecution witness not to give evidence in the case has been taken into account.
The 33-year-old from New Road, Crossmaglen in South Armagh, failed in an application to have reporting restrictions imposed in the case to prevent the fact of his admission and the evidence in the case from being published.
Mr Justice Paul Burns said the Constitution mandates that justice be administered in public and the court was not satisfied that this was an exceptional case.
The trial of his co-accused Dean Byrne, aged 30, from Cabra Park in Phibsborough, Dublin, is due to begin this afternoon.
