Gardai stopped a car that was carrying the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe one mile from the scene of the fatal shooting, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Garda Finbar Gurhy said that at 3.05am, less than six hours after Det Gda Donohoe was shot dead, he was one mile from the scene when he saw a car driving towards him.
He flashed the lights of his patrol car, switched on the siren and when the car pulled up he spoke to the driver through the car window. He recognised the driver but that man can't be named for legal reasons.
He said he could see there was a passenger in the car and although he did not see who it was, defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC said it is accepted that the passenger was his client Aaron Brady.
The witness agreed with Mr O'Higgins that if, as the prosecution says, Mr Brady and the driver of the car were "up to their necks in this murder," being stopped by the gardai with flashing lights and a siren would have been a "very uncomfortable moment".
Gda Gurhy told Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution that the driver of the car told him that he lived nearby and was on his way home. The garda continued on his way to Dundalk and the driver went on his way, he said.
Aaron Brady, 28, from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe, 41, who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
The trial continues this afternoon in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women.
