Michael Andrecut appeals murder conviction over Tristan Sherry

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

Michael Andrecut has appealed his conviction for the murder of Tristan Sherry. His appeal was launched on 30 July 2026, and Judge John Edwards said judgment would be reserved. Brandon Hennessy has also appealed his conviction for violent disorder arising from the attack.

Andrecut’s counsel, Dominic McGinn, argued that the trial court had misdirected itself in applying the provocation test. He said Andrecut had witnessed the fatal shooting of someone very close to him and that violence began within 11 seconds of the gunmen entering the restaurant.

Sherry and a second gunman entered Browne’s Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on 24 December 2023. Sherry shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy Senior before Sherry was attacked and beaten to death.

Andrecut pleaded not guilty to murder. On 17 February 2025, the Special Criminal Court found him and two others guilty. Delivering judgment, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo rejected their argument that provocation had caused a sudden and total loss of self-control. He said Andrecut engaged in violence only after Sherry had been disarmed and was on the floor.

Mr Justice Naidoo later sentenced Andrecut to the mandatory term of life in prison. Brandon Hennessy was sentenced to four and a half years for violent disorder, with the final six months suspended. His counsel, Hugh Hartnett, challenged the system used to identify him on CCTV.

Three men, including Brandon Hennessy, were convicted of violent disorder. Juares Kumbu, who admitted removing a gun from the scene, received three years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years.