‘difficult time’ | 

Family of gunman killed after Christmas Eve shooting say they are ‘absolutely heartbroken’

The family member added: “We can’t believe life has to go on without him.”

Today at 21:27

The Family of a man who was stabbed to death moments after he tried to gun down a customer in a busy ­Dublin restaurant have said they are “absolutely heartbroken”.

Tristan Sherry (26), who is originally from Finglas and has links to the ‘Mr Flashy’ crime gang, was pronounced dead at Browne’s Steakhouse on Main Street in Blanchardstown on Sunday.

Sherry died from his injuries after he was overwhelmed by other men when he used a high-velocity weapon in the attempted gun murder on Christmas Eve.

His victim, a 47-year-old man from Corduff, was eating with family members in the restaurant when Sherry arrived at the scene and fired multiple shots at him at 8.10pm while there were children in the restaurant.

The victim is undergoing treatment at Connolly Memorial Hospital where his condition is described as serious.

It’s understood he suffered at least one gunshot wound to the neck.

Meanwhile, the family of Tristan Sherry have set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money towards his funeral costs.

“We made this to raise money for his funeral cost in this difficult time,” a family member wrote on the fundraising page.

“We are absolutely heartbroken that this has happened. He was well known for his love of motorcycles and was loved by many. He was an amazing Son, Brother, Father and Friend.”

The family member added: “We can’t believe life has to go on without him.”

The fundraising page had raised €585 of its €7,000 target as of this evening.

Sherry was a known associate of the Finglas-based drugs trafficking gang led by the criminal nicknamed ‘Mr Flashy’.

This gang had previously become embroiled in the Corduff feud that led to numerous violent incidents in 2018 and 2019.

“The potential for the gun attack to have been organised by the ‘Mr Flashy’s crew is a very significant line of inquiry in this case,” a source said.

“It was a botched but very reckless shooting as there were a number of children in the restaurant when this happened and other people could have been easily hit.”

It comes as gardai are on high alert amid fears of reprisal attacks.

Associates of the shooting victim, some of whom have strong links to gangland figures, have already sworn revenge.

This has seen a huge increase in tensions and armed garda patrols in the Blanchardstown area, with one source saying “threats are flying around everywhere”.

It comes as Gardai are continuing to appeal for information following the horror incident.

Detectives are appealing to anyone with information or footage to contact them at Blanchardstown Garda Station and urged anyone with videos from the scene not to circulate it.

Local Labour Councillor John Walsh described it as a “reckless and senseless” attack which he said has caused shock and disbelief.

“Blanchardstown is a vibrant community. It’s an incredibly busy time of year,” he told RTE.

“The restaurant itself was very crowded, there was also a lot of people moving around the village, there was carol singing, religious services up at the church, and there was people doing last-minute Christmas shopping, so it was just an extraordinary reckless and senseless act.”

“There’s a great sense of shock and disbelief that something as dreadful as this could happen. It was a crowded family restaurant, there were families there with young children. We’re probably very fortunate that it didn’t lead to a greater loss of life.”

St Brigid’s Church, which is just metres from where the attack took place, said the local community is in shock.

“The events unfolded while we were in the nearby church preparing for and celebrating Christmas carols and Mass. We only heard about them as our services concluded,” a statement said.

“The contrast could not be stronger between our Christmas message of the importance of peace, joy, and the family and these terrible events.

“Our prayers and thoughts are with all those who were involved in any way, the victims, the customers, the staff and management, the Gardaí and emergency services and all their families and loved ones”.

Fingal Chamber also expressed concern about the impact the gun attack could have on local businesses.

Communications Manager David Branagan told RTE News: “Incidents like this do raise real concern. Businesses are already facing many difficult challenges. This can shake peoples confidence and lead to a real knock- on effect in the area.”

“So we’re encouraging local communities to get out there and support the local business and their good, decent, hard-working employees in the days to come”.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the attack as “disgusting”.

“I deplore the violence in Blanchardstown,” Ms McEntee said in an Instagram post.

“This viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas. That anyone could perpetrate such violence as families gathered together is especially disgusting.

“I’m thinking of the bereaved, those who were at the scene and indeed all the emergency service personnel working tonight and over Christmas who have to deal with this senseless violence.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was shocked to hear about the shooting at “a well-known family restaurant I’ve visited many times”.

“Full garda investigation under way. My thanks to them and solidarity to staff and customers,” he wrote on X/Twitter.

Residents in Blanchardstown previously told of their distress about the gun attack.

“I’m absolutely appalled,” said Pauline Harte, a local school warden.

“It’s a very safe community and to happen on that occasion on Christmas Eve is absolutely deplorable.”

She added: “I’m just really in a state of shock because Blanchardstown is a very tightly knit community and I often dine in that restaurant and it’s a very busy, popular restaurant. Lovely staff and lovely people go there from the area.

“Everybody knows everybody, and what a time for it to happen and so unfortunate because Christmas is a time of peace and love and good Christmas spirit. I’m absolutely shocked.”