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Jason Hennessy Snr (48) dies after Christmas Eve shooting as second suspect in attacker’s killing charged

A third man arrested over the Christmas Eve killing of gunman Tristan Sherry (26) was still being questioned by gardaí on Thursday evening

Today at 19:40

A second man has been charged and will appear in court over the killing of a gunman Tristan Sherry, who attacked Jason Hennessy Senior in a restaurant in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve.

A third man who was arrested over the killing of Mr Sherry (26) is still being questioned by gardaí.

Mr Hennessy Senior (48) was shot a number of times and died in hospital earlier on Thursday.

He had been on a life support machine at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown since he was rushed there on Saturday, December 24.

However, although he was initially stabilised, it’s understood his condition worsened in recent days and he was moved to the Mater Hospital where he died today.

Mr Hennessy was known to gardaí and was facing money laundering charges before Dublin Circuit Court. He was due to go on trial next year.

However it is understood that he had been a working man who had no involvement in organised crime until recent years.

He was shot in the neck and suffered other catastrophic injuries when he was hit with bullets from a machine pistol in the shooting which was carried out by Tristan Sherry (26).

Mr Hennessy Senior was rushed to hospital in a car driven by a relative after being hit three times with bullets fired from the machine gun.

Mr Sherry was disarmed and then fatally assaulted at the scene in Browne’s Steakhouse on Main Street in Blanchardstown.

On Saturday, a 22-year-old man appeared before Dublin District Court where he was charged with Mr Sherry’s murder.

Michael Andrecut, with an address at Sheephill Avenue in Dublin 15 was brought before Judge Stephanie Coggans at a special court sitting at the Criminal Courts of Justice where he was remanded in custody.

Two other men including an 18-year-old have also been arrested in relation to the murder and remain in garda custody.

In an update on Thursday evening, gardaí said: “Gardaí have charged the second man arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a fatal assault that occurred at a premises on Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on Sunday, 24th December 2023.

“He is due to appear before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court, tomorrow morning, Friday 5th January, 2024 at 10:30am.

A third individual arrested in connection with the investigation remains in Garda custody at a station in west Dublin.”

Jason Hennessy Senior was considered a key player in an organised crime gang in recent years who have been heavily involved in what is known as the Corduff feud as well as other serious criminal disputes.

The gang have also been involved in large scale drug debt intimidation.

The Christmas Eve gun attack made international headlines and more arrests are expected as part of the garda investigation into it.

There has also been an increase in armed garda patrols in the locality because of concerns of revenge attacks.

Sources said machine-gun wielding attacker Tristan Sherry had been the target of a series of attacks over the past year.

A gangland criminal who was a known associate of the criminal nicknamed Mr. Flashy, the 26-year-old was said to have been set upon by a gang during an incident in Blanchardstown earlier this year and stabbed multiple times with one source describing him as having been ‘butchered.’

On another occasion, it was alleged a car was reversed into a property where he was staying while another property housing a relative was set ablaze.

Gardaí are expected to draw up detailed security plans for the funerals of both men.