BOILING POINT

Bloodbath fears as ‘prime mover’ machete thug aligned with Mr Flashy mob is back on streets after Corduff feud attack

“The feud had been raging at the time with well over 100 incidents and it has clearly been escalating bit by bit.”

• Crime Correspondent

• Published: 7:00, 10 Jan 2024

A GANGSTER who was jailed for a brutal machete attack as part of the Corduff feud is back on the streets just as the dispute threatens to hit new heights.

The Irish Sun can reveal that Martin Cunningham has been released from Mountjoy Prison, from where he previously bombarded his ex-partner with 3,800 phone calls and left threatening messages.

It comes as gardai in west Dublin are braced for more violence following the bloody Christmas Eve attack at Browne’s Steakhouse in Blanchardstown.

The incident saw Tristan Sherry, 26, storm the restaurant with a machine pistol and blast Jason Hennessy Snr, 48. Sherry died from injuries he sustained at the scene, while Hennessy Snr remained in hospital for 11 days before he lost his battle for life.

Cunningham, 29, is aligned to the Finglas-based gang run by drug dealer Mr Flashy, as was Sherry.

The Central Criminal Court heard at his sentence hearing that  Cunningham’s home had been targeted in an attack with bullets and its windows smashed in with hammers while his brother, who has autism, was inside.

The gangster later attacked Kenneth Fitzsimons, a member of another faction, with a machete in April 2019.

The victim suffered deep wounds all over his body, including lacerations to his torso that exposed ribs on both sides. Despite his injuries he managed to make it to Finglas Garda Station where he was able to get help.

Cunningham was given refuge by Mr Flashy’s mob before he was eventually lifted.

He was later handed down a three-year sentence for the attack.

A source said: “The fact Cunningham is back out of prison is concerning.

“The machete attack he was behind was absolutely shocking, but he himself has been targeted in the past too. So his release is just another unwanted element now with the current situation.”

A month after the machete attack, Fitzsimons and his son Dean were stopped in a stolen car armed with loaded pistols and ammunition causing gardai to believe they were on a revenge mission.

Another source said: “The feud had been raging at the time with well over 100 incidents and it has clearly been escalating bit by bit.

“But when the gardai got Cunningham from the Finglas end and then the two Fitzsimons linked to the Blanchardstown side, it removed the prime movers in the feud and the whole thing began to fizzle out.”

Cunningham left threatening messages on his ex-partner’s phone in 3,800 calls made from the prison. And in one voicemail he told her she’d “get a bullet in the back of the head”.

He received a further three-year sentence for that offence, described in court as “callous, calculating, cruel and sustained”, but with time served, he has now been released.

Funeral security operation

The Christmas Eve shooting is likely to see a feud ignite.

The seperate funerals for Sherry and Hennessey Snr are posing a headache for authorities, with gardai expected to mount a major security operation for both.

The security op will see a huge number of cops on the ground supported by the Armed Support Unit.

Details of the funerals will not be made public, following the established procedure for when people have been killed in traumatic circumstances.

Sherry had targeted Hennessy Snr on the night — having been the victim of a vicious stabbing attack in recent months.

But Hennessy Snr’s relatives say he died saving others lives.

One said: “You literally gave your life for your family and so many others.

“There’s not a lot of men that can say that you actually did it.

‘I’ll make sure the world knows’

“I’ll make sure the world knows what you did and what you gave up the truth will be told and I’ll make sure of it. You are a hero and that’s what I’ll make sure everyone knows.”

While trying to curb the feud, gardai continue to investigate  the incident on Christmas Eve.

As revealed by the Irish Sun, a second gunman who was Sherry’s accomplice, fired a number of shots as he fled the scene which was packed with innocent parents and children.

He ran out of the restaurant and got into white Audi, which was being driven by another associate.

Gardai are hunting both men and the car.

Sherry’s machine pistol has not yet been recovered. Gardai have carried out a number of searches without any luck.

Intensive garda searches for the weapon are ongoing.

‘Ramp up the tension’

Sherry’s family initially started a GoFundMe for his funeral but later removed it.

However they told of their heartbreak following his death.

His mum, Marey Hand, wrote: “My son was stabbed on Christmas Eve, his name was Tristan Sherry. We made this (page) to raise money for his funeral cost in this difficult time. We’re 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. We can’t believe life has to go on without him.”

Gardai are also aware of mocking posts that have been emerged since the attack.

A source said: “Social media posts have emerged that gardai are aware of.

“It has been used in recent years as a way to ramp up the tension.”

We can also reveal how Mr Flashy has been posting cryptic posts on referring to “rats.”

Gardai continue to appeal for any witnesses to the incidents or for persons with information or video footage to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.