One of five accused in alleged 'branding stamp' Dublin gang assault enters guilty pleas

Stephen Bourke

One of five men accused of falsely imprisoning and assaulting a man at a house in Dublin in an incident in which a “branding stamp” was allegedly produced has pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm.

Devon Hennessy (29) of Edgewood Lawns, Corduff, Dublin 15, also admitted at the Special Criminal Court on Monday to assaulting the victim as part of a joint enterprise aimed at “enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence”.

Hennessy, who appeared before the three-judge court on Monday morning wearing a black Nike-branded pullover, pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Barry Moore at a house on Sheephill Avenue, Dublin 15, on February 12th, 2025.

Asked for his plea on a second charge of assault causing serious harm on Mr Moore in the same place on the same date “for the purpose of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence”, Hennessy replied: “guilty”.

Fiona Murphy SC, prosecuting, had said that the pleas were on a “full facts basis” and that the State was asking the court to take two further charges on the indictment against Hennessy into account.

Hennessy has been remanded in custody to October 7th this year for a sentencing date to be fixed.

Four of his co-accused are awaiting trial in connection with the assault, and are due back before the court on Thursday.

They are his brothers Jason Hennessy Jr (28) and Brandon Hennessy (22) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; as well as 45-year-old Kenneth Fitzsimons and his son Dean Fitzsimons, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15.

Ms Justice Karen O’Connor has said it may be possible to fit the trial into the court’s schedule for the next term.

The four are charged with false imprisonment, intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and with participating in or contributing to the activity of a criminal organisation by assaulting the alleged victim, causing him serious harm.

Jason Hennessy Jr is further charged with threatening to damage property and producing a branding stamp to intimidate another person during a dispute or a fight on the same date and at the same location.

Brandon Hennessy is charged with producing a "steel breaker bar" in a manner likely to intimidate another person while committing or appearing to be about to commit an assault.

Dean Fitzsimons is charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the alleged victim and producing a metal branding stamp and a steel breaker bar.

Kenneth Fitzsimons is charged with producing a steel breaker bar and an axe during the course of a dispute or fight.