Brandon Hennessy convicted of violent disorder after Dublin restaurant shooting

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

Brandon Hennessy was convicted of violent disorder after striking Tristan Sherry with a dustpan and brush at Browne’s Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Sherry had shot and fatally wounded Hennessy’s father, Jason Hennessy Snr, before being dragged to the ground and beaten to death.

The proceedings were reported on 17 February 2025. The three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court delivered its judgment that day.

The trial heard that Sherry and a second gunman entered the restaurant on 24 December 2023, when Jason Hennessy Snr and about 30 others had gathered for a Christmas party.

Hennessy and two other men charged with violent disorder argued that they had acted in self-defence when they struck Sherry. The court found that Hennessy twice struck Sherry with the dustpan and brush and did not genuinely believe Sherry posed a threat to him. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said Hennessy’s movements and demeanour were not those of a man in fear.

Jonas Kabangu and Diarmuid O’Brien were also convicted of violent disorder. Noah Musueni, David Amah and Michael Andrecut were convicted of Sherry’s murder. The court rejected the murder defendants’ argument that they had suffered a sudden and total loss of self-control and should instead be found guilty of manslaughter.

Mr Justice Naidoo ordered reports for the accused. The matter was to be mentioned again on 10 March, with a sentencing hearing envisaged for 7 April.