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The Journal
7 days ago
- The Journal
Son of murder victim Jason Hennessy jailed after series of clashes with gardaí
THE SON OF fatal shooting victim Jason 'Jay' Hennessy Sr has been jailed for a string of violent crimes including an aggressive confrontation with armed gardaí during a tense search of his Dublin home. Jason Hennessy Jr, 28, pleaded guilty before Judge Catherine Hayden, who imposed sentences totalling six months and a two-year road ban. His father was murdered in a gun attack at a steakhouse on Christmas Eve, 2023, in Blanchardstown. Hennessy, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, faced 15 charges: violent disorder, dangerous driving, obstructing drug search, and having a passenger with no seatbelt from 2019 to 2022 in the Blanchardstown area. At Blanchardstown District Court, Garda Sergeant Ian Abbey outlined the facts on behalf of nine prosecuting gardaí who had had various interactions with the father of four, resulting in criminal charges. The court heard that on 18 May 2019, gardaí conducted a search operation at his home and brought the Armed Support Unit (ASU). Jason Jr had to be restrained by members of the ASU, resisted the search of the property, and when one officer entered, he stood up in an extremely aggressive stance. He shouted abuse and told an officer to 'Fuck off'. The accused told the officer, 'You won't be searching this house,' but he stood and 'squared up' to the garda, entering his personal space and placing his head close to him. Detective Garda Megan Furey had dealings with him twice on 23 June 2019. The first occurred at Blanchardstown Courthouse, where Hennessy called her a 'fucking tramp' and was arrested under the Public Order Act. At 8.19pm that night, as she and colleagues engaged in a 'covert operation', she observed him driving after another car on the Blakestown road, where he sped 'straight through a red light'. There were male occupants in his car, and armed colleagues were alerted due to the nature of the operation, targetting criminal activity in the area. The vehicle turned back in her direction, travelled towards her at speed, and went back through the junction of Blakestown Road and Blakestown Way 'at high speed on the wrong side of the road'. On 3 April 2020, he drove a car with a young child in the back with no seatbelt. The court heard that at 1am on June 22, 2020, a garda at Blanchardstown Garda Station conducted a routine check on the prisoner in cell number 3. Advertisement Hennessy told the garda, 'You are a blond muppet, turn off the light.' He threw water from the toilet, saying, 'Do you want water? You will have to drag me out'. He then began throwing litter from his meal that day. He had to be removed, as he became very aggressive, acting violently to gardaí, and the cell had to be cleaned. Gardaí spotted him on 8 May 2020, with a group where one of them was 'acting suspiciously' outside the Laurel Lodge shopping centre. The garda retrieved a mobile phone from Hennessy and held it when it received a notification. Hennessy then 'became aggressive and threw the mobile phone on the ground, causing it to break. He became violent and had to be restrained and was arrested for obstruction.' The court heard on 15 February 2020, he was caught parking on a footpath, and on 23 January 2020, he was caught driving at 93 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. He became aggressive and verbally abused a garda on routine patrol on 5 February 2022, at Corduff Shops, taunting, 'You will do well in prison, you little faggot', and making hand gestures where there were young children present at the time. The court heard he was arrested on July 19, 2019, at Aldi Mulhuddart Village, D15, where the defendant engaged in threatening and abusive language toward gardaí. Pleading for leniency, defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden told the court his client had young children and was in a long-term relationship, was doing well, 'working out and keeping his head down.' The solicitor added that his client was 'in a good place mentally now given the fact his father was brutally murdered in a shooting in a Christmas Eve shooting in 2023″. He had 15 prior convictions for public order offences, hit and run, and also an assault causing harm and violent disorder incident, which resulted in a suspended three- year sentence. He spoke briefly only to confirm a procedural aspect the case and was not required to give evidence. Judge Hayden noted the offences went back several years and took into account his guilty pleas, which saved the court from having to run several hearings. Earlier this week at Dublin District Court, Judge Anthony Halpin ordered the destruction of four XL Bully pit bulls owned by Hennessy's mother, Veronica Maher, 54, after one escaped the family home and terrorised gardaí who feared for their lives. There has been a two-week stay on the order to destroy Oddie, Reggie, their mother, Medusa, and the fourth dog, Joe, pending a possible appeal.
Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man (20s) arrested following armed robbery at fast food restaurant
The man entered the premises and threatened staff with a shotgun A man in his 20s has been arrested following an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant this morning. Gardai were called to the scene in Dublin 9 this morning after a man with a shotgun entered the premises and threatened staff at approximately 7.30am. The man stole a sum of cash before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. No injuries were reported, and no shots were fired. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - May 29th Gardai from Ballymun Garda Station, an members of the Armed Support Unit arrested the man a short time later. A car stolen during a prior robbery in Dublin was also recovered during the operation. The suspect is detained at a Dublin Garda Station, and investigations are ongoing. 'Gardaí have arrested a male in his 20s following an armed robbery at a retail premises in Dublin 9, this morning, Thursday, 29th May 2025,' a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said. 'At approximately 7:30am, Gardaí were alerted after a lone male armed with a shotgun entered a fast-food premises in Northwood, Dublin 9 and threatened staff. He stole a sum of cash before fleeing the scene in a car. 'No injuries were reported and no shots were discharged,' they continued. 'During a follow-up operation, several local Garda units from Ballymun Garda Station, along with the Armed Support Unit (ASU), arrested a male in his 20s in connection with the incident a short time later in the North Dublin area. A car, stolen during a previous burglary in Dublin, was also recovered during the operation. 'The male arrested is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in the Dublin region. 'Investigations are ongoing.'
Dublin Live
29-05-2025
- Dublin Live
Man armed with shotgun steals cash from north Dublin fast food restaurant
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Gardai have arrested a man after an armed robbery on the northside this morning. A lone man armed with a shotgun held up a fast food restaurant in the Northwood area of Santry at around 7:30am this morning. The man stole cash from the shop before fleeing in a car. Thankfully, no shots were fired, and no injuries were reported. Several local garda units from Ballymun, along with the Armed Support Unit, launched a search and arrested a man in his 20s in connection with the robbery a short time later. A car, which was stolen during a previous burglary, was also recovered by gardai. The man is being held at a garda station in the capital this evening. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí have arrested a male in his 20s following an armed robbery at a retail premises in Dublin 9, this morning, Thursday, 29th May 2025. At approximately 7:30am, Gardaí were alerted after a lone male armed with a shotgun entered a fast-food premises in Northwood, Dublin 9 and threatened staff. He stole a sum of cash before fleeing the scene in a car. "No injuries were reported and no shots were discharged. During a follow-up operation, several local Garda units from Ballymun Garda Station, along with the Armed Support Unit (ASU), arrested a male in his 20s in connection with the incident a short time later in the North Dublin area. A car, stolen during a previous burglary in Dublin, was also recovered during the operation. "The male arrested is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda station in the Dublin region. Investigations are ongoing." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Gardai hunt thug at centre of ‘violent' feud after petrol bomb attack & Gucci Gang clashes amid ‘more control' bid
GARDAI are hunting for a young associate of dead hitman Glen O'Toole who is at the centre of a dangerous feud as he and his pals attempt to take over Mr Flashy's patch. 2 Gardai are seeking an associate of dead hitman Glen O'Toole 2 The thug and his pals are attempting to take over Mr Flashy's patch The man's home was He and his friend are aligned to major This mob has previously been embroiled in a dispute with But Ward and his younger brother Eric O'Driscoll Read more in News The petrol bombing and failed pipe bomb attacks this month happened after the Fitzgerald-linked mob stole electric motorbikes from another rival crew. He previously was closely linked to Glen O'Toole, a hitman who took his own life in The hood later lost another close pal, Shane Fowler, who died in May 2018, after he crashed his motorbike into a pole while armed on his way to a planned hit on Mr Flashy. Most read in the Irish Sun A source said: 'This individual is one of the main criminals involved in the feud. 'Taking him out of the situation will give gardai more control on the overall feud and help prevent any further violence.' RAID RESULTS Gardai hit both sides of the feud in eight separate raids days after the latest attacks earlier this month . They seized a pump-action shotgun, four motorcycles, €10,000 in cannabis, heroin worth €4,200, a tracking device and a number of phones. More officers from the Armed Support Unit have been posted to the area as part of ongoing efforts to curb the dispute.
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- Irish Times
Shotgun, ammunition and drugs seized by gardaí in raid following attempted drone bomb attack
A pump-action shotgun, 26 rounds of ammunition, drugs worth about €14,000, four motorcycles, a tracking device and phones were seized by gardaí in Finglas, north Dublin on Thursday. The eight searches at residences in the area follow a number of others conducted in recent days by gardaí as part of its response to illegal drone activity locally. A drone carrying an improvised explosive device crashed last week in Finglas . Detectives believe the pipe bomb was to be detonated by hitting the ground at the intended target's home after being dropped from the drone mid-flight. READ MORE It is understood to be part of a feud between crime gangs. Around €10,000 in cannabis and heroin with an estimated value of €4,200 were among the seizures by gardaí, who were supported by the Garda Emergency Response Unit, the Garda Armed Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit. Gardaí said investigations were ongoing.
