Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 10698Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin · 12 Feb 2025

Five Dublin gang members jailed for assault in which 'RAT' was branded on victim's face

On 12 February 2025 in Dublin, Barry Moore, a man, was assaulted by members of a criminal gang who waterboarded him, beat him with an iron bar and branded the word RAT on his face. Five men, Jason Hennessy, Brandon Hennessy, Kenneth Fitzsimons, Dean Fitzsimons and Devon Hennessy, were charged with various offences, including causing serious harm and false imprisonment, and held in custody from 17 February 2025. The State accepted guilty pleas to assault causing harm, and the Central Criminal Court imposed sentences of three to 8.5 years, reported on 1 March 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Five members of a Dublin criminal gang were jailed for the assault of Barry Moore.
  • Mr Moore was waterboarded, beaten with an iron bar, threatened with rape using a stick and branded with the word RAT.
Where
Mr Moore went to Jason Hennessy's home in Sheephill Avenue, Dublin, to buy a tracksuit.
When
The assault took place on 12 February 2025.
Cause
At the time of the assault there was a feud between the Hennessys and an organised crime gang based in Finglas.
Weapon
Mr Moore suffered a fractured elbow from a blow of an iron bar and multiple small stab wounds to his legs.
Investigation
  • Mr Moore was interviewed by gardaí on 13 February 2025, the day after the assault.
  • Gardaí found the cattle branding iron used on Mr Moore in an area of waste ground.
Charges
  • The five men were originally charged with various offences, including causing serious harm and false imprisonment of Mr Moore.
  • The State accepted guilty pleas to assault causing harm.
In court
  • Mr Moore refused to give evidence the year after the assault.
  • The sentencing court was Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Fiona Lydon, and the judge gave little weight to remorse from four accused, who pleaded guilty only after the trial had begun.
Sentence
  • Devon Hennessy received three years, the shortest sentence, and Kenneth Fitzsimons received eight years.
  • Jason Hennessy and Dean Fitzsimons each received 8.5 years after a headline sentence of ten years was reduced, and Brandon Hennessy received six years to run consecutively to his existing sentence.
  • All sentences except Brandon Hennessy's are backdated to 17 February 2025, when the men went into custody on this charge.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFive members of a Dublin criminal gang will serve prison terms of between three and 8.5 years. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe victim was waterboarded, beaten with an iron bar, threatened with rape using a stick and branded with the word RAT. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereMr Moore went to Jason Hennessy's home in Sheephill Avenue to buy a tracksuit. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenMr Moore was interviewed by gardaí on 13 February 2025, the day after the assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeAt the time of the assault there was a feud between the Hennessys and an organised crime gang based in Finglas. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe victim suffered a fractured elbow from a blow of an iron bar and multiple small stab wounds to his legs. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found the cattle branding iron used on Mr Moore in an area of waste ground. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe five men were originally charged with various offences, including causing serious harm and false imprisonment of Mr Moore. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe State accepted guilty pleas to assault causing harm. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMr Moore refused to give evidence the year after the assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge gave little weight to remorse from four accused, who pleaded guilty only after the trial had begun. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing court was Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Fiona Lydon. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceDevon Hennessy was given the shortest sentence, three years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJason Hennessy and Dean Fitzsimons each received 8.5 years after a headline sentence of ten years was reduced. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceBrandon Hennessy was given a six-year sentence to run consecutively to his existing sentence. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceKenneth Fitzsimons was jailed for eight years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceAll sentences except Brandon Hennessy's are backdated to 17 February 2025, when the men went into custody on this charge. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Mar2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Five members of Dublin gang jailed for assault in which ‘RAT’ was branded on victim’s face

    Sentencing of five men at the Central Criminal Court for the February 2025 assault on Barry Moore. Describes the assault, the original charges, guilty pleas and sentences of three to 8.5 years. No earlier article about this case is in the list.

    victim, Barry Moore, 35, male, irish (judged from name)Barry Mooreconvicted, Jason Hennessy, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Hennessyconvicted, Brandon Hennessy, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brandon Hennessyconvicted, Kenneth Fitzsimons, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fitzsimonsconvicted, Dean Fitzsimons, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Fitzsimonsconvicted, Devon Hennessy, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Devon Hennessy