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. 7059Murder · Co. Dublin · 24 Dec 2023

Two teenagers sentenced to nine years for murder of Tristan Sherry

Tristan Sherry was beaten to death on Christmas Eve 2023 in Dublin, after he shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy Snr in a busy restaurant. David Amah, 19, of Donabate, was convicted of murder at the Special Criminal Court, and a second teenager, not named in the sources, was also convicted of murder. The High Court had earlier found the mandatory life sentence unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court later ruled that life is not mandatory for child murderers. On 26 May 2025 Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced both teenagers, with reports giving nine years each, while Brandon Hennessy, 22, Jonas Kabangu, 19, and an unnamed 18-year-old received suspended sentences for violent disorder.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced26 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Tristan Sherry was beaten to death after he shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy Snr.
  • David Amah and an unnamed accomplice stamped on Sherry and stabbed him repeatedly.
Where
The shooting took place in a busy restaurant.
When
The incident occurred on Christmas Eve 2023.
Charges
  • David Amah, 19, of Donabate, was convicted of murder at the Special Criminal Court and was 17 at the time of the offence.
  • A second teenager, not named in the sources, was also convicted of murder.
Other details
  • The offence did not involve pre-planning, and a probation report put Amah at low risk of reoffending.
  • The judge accepted that the killing of Brandon Hennessy's father was a mitigating factor in his favour.
In court
  • The High Court found the law requiring mandatory life imprisonment for the pair unconstitutional before the trial.
  • A Supreme Court ruling earlier in 2025 held that a life sentence is not mandatory for child murderers and should only be used in exceptional cases.
  • The case was heard by a three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court, with Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentencing.
Sentence
  • Amah was sentenced to 12 years with the final three suspended, while reports say the two teenagers were jailed for nine years each.
  • Brandon Hennessy, 22, of Dublin 15, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years with the last six months suspended for one year for violent disorder.
  • Jonas Kabangu, 19, of Blanchardstown, received four years with the final 12 months suspended for two years for violent disorder, and the unnamed 18-year-old received two years and four months with the final year suspended for two years for violent disorder.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTristan Sherry was beaten to death after shooting Jason Hennessy Snr (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBoth Amah and the unnamed accomplice stamped on Sherry and stabbed him repeatedly (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTristan Sherry was beaten to death after he shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy snr in a busy restaurant on Christmas Eve two years ago. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBoth Amah and the unnamed accomplice stamped on Tristan Sherry and stabbed him repeatedly. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe shooting took place in a busy restaurant (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on Christmas Eve two years before the article (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDavid Amah, 19, of Donabate, was convicted of murder at the Special Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe High Court found the mandatory life imprisonment law unconstitutional before trial (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThese are the first defendants sentenced after the Supreme Court ruling that life is not mandatory for child murderers (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDavid Amah was convicted of murder at the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court found the law requiring mandatory life imprisonment for the pair unconstitutional. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA Supreme Court ruling earlier in the year held that a life sentence is not mandatory for child murderers and should only be used in exceptional cases. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceAmah was sentenced to 12 years with the final three years suspended (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBrandon Hennessy was sentenced to four-and-a-half years with the last six months suspended for one year (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJonas Kabangu received four years with the final 12 months suspended for two years (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced Amah to 12 years with the final three years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceBrandon Hennessy, 22, of Dublin 15, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years with the last six months suspended for one year for violent disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJonas Kabangu, 19, of Blanchardstown, received four years with the final 12 months suspended for two years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe unnamed 18-year-old violent disorder defendant was sentenced to two years and four months with the final year suspended for two years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAmah was 17 at the time of the offence (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe offence did not involve pre-planning (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA probation report put Amah at low risk of reoffending (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAmah was 17 at the time of the offence and is not subject to the mandatory life term for murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe offence did not involve pre-planning and a probation report put Amah at low risk of reoffending. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge accepted that the killing of Hennessy's father was a mitigating factor in his favour. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 May2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Two teens jailed over 'brutal' murder of gunman Tristan Sherry

    Sentencing hearing at the Special Criminal Court before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo; first sentences handed down after the Supreme Court ruling that life is not mandatory for child murderers.

    victim, Tristan Sherry, male, irish (judged from name)Tristan Sherryconvicted, David Amah, 19, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)David Amahconvicted, 18, maleconvicted, Brandon Hennessy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brandon Hennessyconvicted, Jonas Kabangu, 19, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jonas Kabanguconvicted, 18, male
  2. 26 May2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Two teenagers sentenced to nine years for the murder of Tristan Sherry

    Sentencing at the Special Criminal Court; first defendants sentenced after the Supreme Court ruling that a life sentence is not mandatory for child murderers. The High Court had previously found the mandatory life imprisonment law unconstitutional before trial.

    victim, Tristan Sherry, male, irish (judged from name)Tristan Sherryconvicted, David Amah, 19, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)David Amahconvicted, 18, maleconvicted, Brandon Hennessy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brandon Hennessyconvicted, Jonas Kabangu, 19, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jonas Kabanguconvicted, 18, male