By Sonya McLean
A young man who witnessed the murder of his father one Christmas Eve has been given a suspended sentence after he was caught trying to hide over €32,000 worth of drugs.
Brandon Hennessy (21) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having cocaine for sale or supply in Blanchardstown on January 21, 2021. He was 17 years old at the time.
Gda Dan Sweeney told Jennifer Jackson BL, prosecuting, that gardaí had a surveillance operation in place and had positioned themselves in the grounds of TUD Blanchardstown.
He said at 7.45pm an off-road motorcycle arrived at the grounds close to the GAA pitches.
There were two passengers, one of whom was Hennessy, and they had large package of bags with them.
Gda Sweeney confirmed that the other man began digging while Hennessy handed him packages.
Officers were instructed to move in and they approached the pair, identifying themselves as gardaí.
The bags were dropped and the two ran off. Hennessy was pursued by gardaí and was ultimately caught at Mulhuddart Cemetery nearby.
Hennessy was arrested and brought in for questioning.
A follow-up search at the scene revealed 454 grammes of cocaine valued at €31,808 and 10 grammes of heroin valued at €1,482.
Hennessy was just a month shy of his 18th birthday at the time of his arrest.
He has two previous convictions for minor road traffic offences.
Gda Sweeney agreed with Hugh Hartnett SC, defending, that his co-accused in the case was around 25 years old at the time.
Mr Hartnett handed in a number of testimonials from various people who spoke highly of Hennessy and described him as talented footballer.
A testimonial from a youth worker said he had engaged very well with his service for a year between 2018 and 2019.
Mr Hartnett said his client’s father was assassinated in front of him about a year ago, on Christmas Eve, 2023.
He said his mother has struggled to cope with her husband’s death and Hennessy is a good support to her.
Counsel submitted that there were “very positive aspects” to his client’s personality.
Judge Martin Nolan said gardaí had been watching the situation evolve and found Hennessy and his co-accused either burying or extracting a quantity of drugs.
He acknowledged his plea of guilty, co-operation with the investigation and the fact that “his mother needs him at home”.
He further accepted that Hennessy had “tragedy in his life” and added that he suspects he will not offend again.
Judge Nolan said “principally on the basis of his youth at the time” Hennessy did not deserve a custodial sentence before he imposed a sentence of three years which he suspended in full on condition that Hennessy engage with the Probation Service for 18 months.