Wednesday 28 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. 1464Assault causing serious harm, false imprisonment, producing an article, organised crime (Section 72 Criminal Justice Act 2006) · Co. Dublin · 12 Feb 2024

Five men sent for Special Criminal Court trial over 'RAT' branding attack in west Dublin

Five men, including three Hennessy brothers and two Fitzsimons father and son, were sent for trial in the Special Criminal Court after allegedly branding the word 'RAT' on a man's face and torso, beating him, waterboarding him, and falsely imprisoning him at the Hennessys' home in Dublin 15 on 12 February 2024. The DPP directed trial on indictment and authorised the non-jury Special Criminal Court venue under the Offences Against the State Act.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court24 Jun
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced24 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was allegedly branded 'RAT' on his face and torso, beaten, waterboarded, and threatened to be raped. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at the Hennessys' home in west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offending in the second trial took place between 1969 and 1986. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 12 February 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeIn the second trial, Clohessy was convicted of five counts of indecently assaulting four boys. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeIn the first trial, Clohessy was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault relating to two boys on dates between 1983 and 1985. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe men were initially charged with causing serious harm, falsely imprisoning the victim, and producing an article during a dispute. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeAdditional charges were brought under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, for enhancing a criminal organisation's ability to commit a serious offence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeBrandon Hennessy is charged with knowingly holding down the man while 'RAT' was branded onto his face and torso. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJason Hennessy and Dean Fitzsimons are charged with branding the word RAT to the face and torso of the man. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeKenneth Fitzsimons and Devon Hennessy are accused of assaulting the man in preparation for branding. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeIt is alleged the five were participating in an activity of a criminal organisation when they committed the offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtRonan Kennedy SC was defending Clohessy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe five men appeared before Judge Alan Mitchell at Cloverhill District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment and authorised the Special Criminal Court venue. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe DPP drafted a certificate under section 46.2 of the Offences Against the State Act stating the ordinary courts are inadequate. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defendants were remanded in continuing custody with no pleas indicated. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted to include a barrister and senior counsel for each defendant. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a 16-month sentence for the second trial, consecutive to the four-year sentence from the first trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceClohessy received a global sentence of five years and four months for offending against six injured parties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Elva Duffy sentenced Clohessy to four years in the first trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy was acquitted of three further counts of indecent assault in the second trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy was the principal of St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co. Dublin from the early 1970s until 1993. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy voluntarily returned to Ireland in 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe six boys were all pupils of the school, some of whom were boarders. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe injured parties were aged between 10 and 13 when the offending took place. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe abuse primarily took the form of inappropriate touching. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy was a member of the Order of St John of God. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy denied wrongdoing when interviewed voluntarily by gardai but acknowledged corporal punishment was used in the school. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy told gardai corporal punishment included striking boys on their bare buttocks for the most serious offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherVictim impact statements were read to the court on behalf of all six injured parties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGerard Quinn addressed Clohessy directly in a statement read by his wife. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJudge Nolan noted the aggravating feature that Clohessy was in a position of trust which he betrayed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJudge Nolan said if it were a standalone trial and Clohessy was younger, he would impose a sentence of between three and four years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe defendants' solicitor is Simon Fleming. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Jun2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    5 men face special trial after man allegedly had 'RAT' branded on face in attack

    Reports that the five defendants appeared before Judge Alan Mitchell at Cloverhill District Court, where the DPP directed trial on indictment and authorised the Special Criminal Court venue under section 46.2 of the Offences Against the State Act. Specific charges for each defendant are detailed, legal aid was granted, and the men were remanded in continuing custody with no trial date yet set.

    victim, maleaccused, Jason Hennessy Jr, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Hennessy Jraccused, Devon Hennessy, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Devon Hennessyaccused, Brandon Hennessy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brandon Hennessyaccused, Kenneth Fitzsimons, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fitzsimonsaccused, Dean Fitzsimons, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Fitzsimons
  2. 24 Jun2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Ex-school principal jailed for indecent assault gets extra jail time

    Sentencing in the second trial; adds details on the 16-month consecutive sentence, the totality principle, victim impact statements, Clohessy's background as a member of the Order of St John of God, and his defence's submissions.

    convicted, Aidan Clohessy, 85, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aidan Clohessyvictim, Gerard Quinn, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Quinn