Andrecut and Hennessy appeal convictions over Tristan Sherry attack

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Michael Andrecut and Brandon Hennessy have appealed their convictions arising from the attack on gunman Tristan Sherry. Andrecut’s appeal was heard on 30 July 2026, and Judge John Edwards said judgment would be reserved.

Andrecut’s counsel argued that the trial court had misapplied the provocation test after Andrecut witnessed the fatal shooting of someone close to him. Hennessy’s counsel challenged the way his client was identified on CCTV.

On 24 December 2023, Sherry shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy Senior at Browne’s Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Sherry was disarmed and beaten to death. On 17 February 2025, the three-judge Special Criminal Court convicted Andrecut, David Amah and another teenager of murder, and Brandon Hennessy, Jonas Kabangu and another teenager of violent disorder. All six had pleaded not guilty.

Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said the prosecution had rebutted the murder defendants’ argument that provocation caused a sudden and total loss of self-control. The court accepted that the shooting was extremely provocative, but found the defendants had opportunities to consider their actions. The violent disorder defendants had argued self-defence; the court rejected those arguments.

Mr Justice Naidoo sentenced Andrecut to mandatory life imprisonment. The proceedings were reported on 10 April 2025. He also sentenced Juares Kumbu, who admitted removing a gun from the scene, to three years with the final year suspended for two years.

On 26 May 2025, Mr Justice Naidoo sentenced Amah to 12 years with the final three years suspended, and imposed a similar sentence on the other murder defendant, with the final three years suspended for three years. Hennessy received four and a half years with the final six months suspended for one year; Kabangu received four years with the final year suspended for two years. The other violent disorder defendant received two years and four months with the final year suspended for two years.