Court hears graphic account of how dead gunman Tristan Sherry was stamped, kicked and beaten with chairs

A garda has given a blow-by-blow account of how gunman Tristan Sherry was stamped, kicked and beaten with chairs and a bar after he had shot a man at a busy Dublin restaurant last Christmas Eve.

The witness also told the Special Criminal Court that one murder accused can be seen holding a phone over Sherry's head before delivering one final kick.

Det Gda Dermot Sloan has been taking the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court through montages of CCTV footage from Browne's Steakhouse on December 24 last year.

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The court has heard that Jason Hennessy Snr and a group of people had gathered in the restaurant when Sherry and a second man entered carrying guns and with their faces covered and hoods up.

Det Gda Sloan today played CCTV footage which he told prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC shows Hennessy and other members of his group arriving at the restaurant from about 7.25pm. By 8.13pm they were gathered at tables and booths to the back of the restaurant when the two gunmen arrived. Within seconds Sherry came to the table where Hennessy was standing and shot him - Mr. Hennessy died in hospital 12 days later.

Det Gda Sloan said Sherry was disarmed during a struggle with Hennessy and other members of the group while the second gunman fled. The detective detailed the alleged actions of Michael Andrecut (22), David Amah (18) and Noah Musueni (18), who all deny murdering Sherry.

The detective said that Mr Andrecut can be seen stamping on Sherry's head or body with his right foot. Seconds later, the witness said Mr Andrecut picked up a glass from a table and struck down on Sherry with the glass.

The garda detailed Mr Andrecut picking up another glass and striking Sherry in the head area before stamping and lunging with his right foot in the direction of where Sherry was lying. About two minutes into the attack, a small group picked up Hennessy's body and removed him from the restaurant over Sherry, who remained on the ground. At the same time, Mr Andrecut became "quite animated in the vicinity of Tristan Sherry's head area," the detective said.

The detective detailed jabbing motions by Mr Andrecut and a kick to Sherry's body before another member of the group handed him "what appears to be a knife".

About three minutes into the attack, Mr Andrecut picked up a black bar, the detective said, and used it to strike Sherry in the head area. He then kicked Sherry and delivered a blow to the head using the bar before picking up a chair and striking down on Sherry's head area. Having left, Mr Andrecut returned to deliver a kick to Sherry's head before leaving and returning again, the detective said.

On the final occasion, Det Gda Sloan said Mr Andrecut held a phone over Sherry's head and delivered one more kick before a woman pushed him away.

The detective said David Amah could be seen stamping and kicking towards Sherry's body and head before picking up a chair and using it to strike Sherry's body. He left the restaurant about four minutes after the attack had begun.

Noah Musueni ran to a bathroom when the violence broke out before returning to the restaurant where he helped to remove Hennessy's body. Seconds after Hennessy was removed, the detective said Mr Musueni stamped on Sherry's head area before picking something up from a table and delivering a jabbing motion to Sherry's body.

The detective detailed five further jabbing motions by Musueni towards Sherry over a 50 second period during which he also delivered a kick to Sherry's head area, the detective said.

About four minutes after the attack had begun, Det Gda Sloan said Mr Musueni threw a chair which hit Sherry in the head and body area.

Jonas Kabangu (18), who is charged with violent disorder, ran through the restaurant kitchen and out to the carpark when the violence began, Det Gda Sloan said.

Jason Hennessy Sr with family members in 2021.

A little over one minute later, Mr Kabangu returned and kicked Sherry twice before helping to lift Hennessy out of the restaurant.

The detective will continue his evidence tomorrow (Wednesday) before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge James Faughnan.

Three men are currently on trial charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry on December 24, 2023 at Browne’s Steakhouse, Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.They are Noah Musueni (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown; David Amah (18), Hazel Grove, Portrane Road, Donabate, Dublin; and Michael Andrecut (22), Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown.Jonas Kabangu (18), Corduff Park, Blanchardstown and 18-year-old Diarmuid O'Brien of Corduff Place, Blanchardstown are charged with violent disorder at the same location on that date.Brandon Hennessy (21) of Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15 - the son of Jason Hennessy Snr - is also charged with violent disorder.All the accused have pleaded not guilty.

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