Latest news with #GardaInformationMessage
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Violent thug involved in ‘RAT' branding attack is leader of Dublin crime mob
Devon Hennessy has operated as one of the leaders of a west Dublin mob involved in drug dealing, gang feuds, gun and firebomb attacks, and extreme violence in recent years Devon Hennessy has been warned of a threat to his life The thug who has pleaded guilty this week to falsely imprisoning and assaulting a man who was beaten and had the word 'RAT' branded on his body is a violent gangland figure with a lengthy involvement in serious crime. Devon Hennessy (29) of Edgewood Lawns, Corduff, Dublin, admitted at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting the victim as part of a joint enterprise aimed at 'enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence'. Devon has operated as one of the leaders of a west Dublin mob involved in drug dealing, gang feuds, gun and firebomb attacks, and extreme violence in recent years. He has survived several attempts on his life and his father Jason Hennessy Snr was shot dead as part of a feud in west Dublin on Christmas Eve, 2023. Last August, Devon survived an attempted assassination after a gunman opened fire on him while he was driving a bullet-proof BMW. Gardai later seized the vehicle, which was suspected to have been previously used by associates of the notorious Dundon crime gang. The shooting, however, was not the first time Devon had been targeted by gunmen. He has been involved in various gang wars throughout most of his adult life and was a key player in the Corduff feud which began at the end of 2018 following a dispute between two rival drugs. By the following year, there were multiple shooting incidents, assaults, stabbings, firebomb attacks and a machete attack at Finglas Garda Station linked to the feud. Devon, who was key player in the violence, survived a number of incidents when gunmen opened up on his home and vehicle around that time, including one incident where five shots were fired at a car he was travelling in in 2019. Gardai had given him an official Garda Information Message [GIM] informing him of a credible threat to his life. Devon Hennessy carrying his father Jason Snr's coffin after his murder Officers also regularly targeted Devon and his associates in stops and searches. He was stopped on numerous occasions in a BMW he claimed he won in a raffle. Members of the gang were regularly abusive to gardai who spoke to them. Officers in the area were constantly carrying out searches of land and property which led to seizures of drugs, weapons and ammunition believed to belong to the gang. Devon regularly appeared in court while the feud was ongoing and in 2020 he pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he admitted throwing a punch at a man as he was leaving a courthouse. Brazen Devon approached a rival outside Blanchardstown Court while gardai were present, punching him in the face 'without prior warning or provocation'. The garda witness said he was aware there were 'background issues' between Hennessy and this other man and he immediately intervened and tried to restrain Hennessy. The Corduff feud has seen vehicles fire bombed He said Hennessy resisted him and tried to go back to the other man shouting at him 'you are a dead man'. A number of other officers had to assist to continue to physically restrain Hennessy, while other associates of his tried to get involved in the situation. The feud continued as Devon and his gang regularly became involved in violent incidents and pushed drugs in west Dublin. The violence eventually caught up with the gang and Devon's father Jason Hennessy Snr was fatally injured while having a meal with associates in Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve in 2023. Tristan Sherry, pictured, died after his gun attack on Hennessy Snr The gunman, Tristan Sherry, was attacked by seven men and killed at the scene. Jason Hennessy Snr died in hospital 11 days after he was shot. Three men have been found guilty of murdering Sherry, three others have been convicted of violent disorder and another was jailed for removing a firearm from the scene. The feuding continued in the aftermath of the attack, including the attempt on Devon's life as well as another hit attempt linked to the feud which was foiled by gardai. The gang was also behind numerous firebomb attacks in the area, including on the homes of innocent people, as they continued to try to rule the locality through fear and violence. Jason Hennessy Snr Just weeks after the August 2024 gun attack, Hennessy was back before the courts after he was found guilty of having zopiclone tablets for sale or supply after he and an associate were caught with them in a car near Cloverhill Prison. The drugs were wrapped in four packets, each containing a mobile phone and weights, and gardai suspect they were hoping to get them into the prison. Devon would soon find himself inside that same jailhouse after his involvement in the assault and false imprisonment of Barry Moore at a house on Sheephill Avenue, Dublin, on February 12, 2025. His brothers Jason Hennessy Jr (28) and Brandon Hennessy (22) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; as well as 45-year-old Kenneth Fitzsimons and his son Dean Fitzsimons, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin, were also arrested in relation to the attack and are awaiting trial on the matter. Devon and the four other men went on hunger strike in Cloverhill Prison in March this year, telling staff they were unhappy with restrictions placed upon them while on remand in the high-security facility. However, the hunger strike lasted less than 24 hours The Hennessy's house 'They didn't last much longer than if they'd skipped their dinner,' a source told us at the time. 'They gave up as soon as the first pangs of hunger hit. 'When inmates go on hunger strike, there are food refusal protocols that kick in after 24 hours. 'They didn't make it long enough for those to kick in.' Hennessy was in court around that time after admitting to dangerously driving a scrambler bike in west Dublin. He drove at high speed along footpaths in the busy Blanchardstown area, causing pedestrians to jump out of his way, and across a green area where young children were playing. He was given a four month sentence, €500 fine and two year driving ban. He has been remanded in custody to October 7 this year for a sentencing date to be fixed. Devon Hennessy has been warned of a threat to his life News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, August 5th
Sunday World
24-04-2025
- Sunday World
Man charged over death of Willie Moorehouse was warned of threat to his life, court told
Kris Kiggins (32) with no fixed abode was arrested at Bray Garda Station at 1.50am this morning A 32-year-old man has appeared before Bray District Court in relation to the death of Willie Moorehouse in Wicklow in January. Kris Kiggins (32) with no fixed abode was arrested at Bray Garda Station at 1.50am this morning. He was refused bail after a contested hearing before Judge David Kennedy who heard Mr Kiggins had been served with a Garda Information Message (GIM) form since the incident. This is an official document which warns a person about a threat to their life. He was charged with violent disorder and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury. Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Detective Ryan O'Neill of Bray Garda Station who also outlined garda objections to Mr Kiggins being given bail. Detective O'Neill told the court that he believed that Mr Kiggins 'was a danger to the public.' Willie Moorehouse He explained said that the evidence in the case would be that there was an arranged fight in the area at Ballywaltrim on Sunday January 19, where young children were present, and that there had been 13 people involved and the fight resulted in the death of Mr Moorehouse. He said a number of weapons including knives, an axe, a baseball bat, golf club and other items were recovered by gardaí afterwards. Describing it as an 'extremely violent' incident, the detective alleged that Mr Moorehouse was stabbed to death. He said that some of the incident was caught on CCTV and alleged that a masked Mr Kiggins was captured brandishing a knife while wearing a distinctive track suit. When he was first arrested in January he denied being in Bray on the day but later admitted being at the scene of the fatal fight. However when shown CCTV footage by gardai he said that he was in possession of a screwdriver and not a knife. Mr Kiggins is the fourth person to be charged in connection with the investigation into the death of Mr Moorehouse and there has been 13 arrests so far in total. Earlier this month two men and a teenager were charged today at Arklow District Court as part of the investigation. Yesterday Bray District Court heard the fight was part of 'ongoing tensions' between associates of Willie Moorhouse and people linked to Mr Kiggins. Detective O'Neill explained that Mr Kiggins was arrested by appointment at Bray Garda Station yesterday but he was sought by gardai for the past week. An operation was put in place last week he said in which the defendant's mother's home was searched but he was not present at that time. 'He was aware that we were looking for him,' the detective said. No bail conditions offered by Mr Kiggins' defence counsel would satisfy the detective's objection to bail. He was remanded in custody to appear before Bray District Court on May 1 via video link. Earlier this month Patrick Fitzpatrick, James Fell, and the juvenile male (17) appeared before Arklow District Court amid heavy garda security. Patrick Fitzpatrick (33), of Old Court in Bray, was charged with murder and violent disorder, while James Fell (24) of Fassaroe in Bray, and the juvenile male were charged with violent disorder and the production of articles capable of inflicting serious injury.
