It is the State's contention that an accused's back tattoo amounts to a "pictorial admission" of his involvement in the robbery of a Dundalk credit union during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
The tattoo depicted four males with hats, including one holding a long barrelled firearm, along with a woman wearing a balaclava with a gun to her lips, a large BMW car, a pistol, rounds of ammunition and wads of money.
34-year-old Brendan Treanor previously of Emer Terrace, Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co Louth, and James Flynn (32) from South Armagh are charged with the robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013.
Both men are also charged with conspiring with convicted Garda-killer Aaron Brady and others to enter residential premises with the intention of stealing car keys.
The prosecution alleges that Mr Treanor and Mr Flynn were part of a group of young men who conspired to break into houses to steal car keys and then quietly make off with the cars.
They have pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Garda Aidan Hanlon told this week's court proceedings, that he took seven photographs of Mr Treanor on the morning of April 19 2021 including two of his back.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell said the court was satisfied that the photograph was taken in the context of an entirely lawful procedure.
Meanwhile, Aaron Brady (31) previously of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum after being found guilty of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and of the robbery at Lordship. He denied any involvement in the robbery and is awaiting an appeal against his conviction.
