Three guilty of murdering Christmas Eve gunman

Three men have been found guilty of murdering a gunman shortly after he carried out a killing at a restaurant in Dublin on Christmas Eve 2023.

Tristan Sherry, 26, was killed after the fatal shooting of 48-year-old Jason Hennessy Snr at Browne’s Steakhouse in Blanchardstown.

On Monday, Michael Andrecut, 23, from Sheephill Avenue in Blanchardstown, Noah Musueni, 18, from Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, and David Amah, 19, from Hazel Grove, Portrane Road in Donabate, were convicted at Dublin’s Special Criminal Court.

All three had denied the murder.

Three other men aged 18, 19 and 21 have been convicted of offences related to the killing. The 21-year-old is Brandon Hennessy, a son of David Hennessy Snr.

A seventh man is due to appear again in court next month.

The restaurant was full on the night of the killings, with Mr Hennessy’s family and friends occupying tables and booths at the back.

Shortly after 20:00 local time, two gunmen, one of whom was Tristan Sherry, walked in, went to where Mr Hennessy Snr was standing holding a toddler and fired a number of shots at him.

After being tackled to the ground the 26-year-old was disarmed and attacked by a group, kicked, stamped on, struck with chairs, stabbed and shot in the shoulder.

The post-mortem established he sustained 27 sharp wound injuries, 16 of which were stab wounds and was beaten several times in the head and face with chairs, a brush and a metal bar sustaining severe scalp lacerations.

His blood was found on chairs, a folding knife, a metal bar, a butter knife and a brush.

Jason Hennessy Snr was attended to and carried from the restaurant while the attack continued. He died later in hospital from gunshot wounds.