Five men jailed over branding attack; terms range from three to 8½ years

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

The Special Criminal Court jailed five men for their roles in an attack in which Barry Moore was beaten and branded with the word “RAT”. Jason Hennessy Jr and Dean Fitzsimons each received eight-and-a-half-year terms; Kenneth Fitzsimons was jailed for eight years, Brandon Hennessy for six years and Devon Hennessy for three years.

The court said Devon Hennessy had tried to intervene and had pleaded guilty early. Brandon Hennessy’s six-year term is consecutive to a sentence he is already serving, which ends on 16 February 2028; the other sentences were backdated to 17 February 2025, when the men went into custody on the charge.

The four other men had initially faced more serious charges, but pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after Moore refused to give evidence during the trial. Devon Hennessy had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assisting a criminal organisation to inflict serious harm.