Widow of Jason Hennessy accused of setting XL Bully dog on gardaí

Tom Tuite

The widow of Jason "Jay" Hennessy Sr, who was murdered in a Christmas shooting, has been accused of setting an XL Bully pit bull dog on gardaí during a drugs and money laundering investigation.

Veronica Maher (54) faces four serious charges for threatening and endangering the lives of gardaí and possessing earnings from crime.

Her late husband, Jason "Jay" Hennessy Sr, was fatally shot in Browne's steakhouse in Blanchardstown, Dublin, during a gathering on the night of Christmas Eve 2023.

She wore just slippers and a blue blanket, which he kept wrapped around her when the mother appeared before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court on Friday.

Bail was granted with conditions that she not own a restricted breed of dog or engage in drug dealing. Her daughter and another young woman face connected charges and were also released on bail.

Ms Maher was accused of endangerment of life last Friday at her home on Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown.

It is alleged she "intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct, deliberately let a large restricted breed XL Bully Pit Bull Dog from her garden as members of An Garda Síochána conducting beat patrols in the area causing them to flee from this dog that put them in fear as it chased the member".

That charge, contrary to section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, states the incident created a "substantial risk of death or serious harm to another".

In the second alleged incident at her home last Friday, it was alleged she made a threat to a garda that she would kill or cause serious harm to him and his colleagues, intending the officer to believe she would it would be carried out.

The final two charges come under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act.

It was alleged she engaged in possessing proceeds of criminal conduct, a €10 marked note, that was used as part of an undercover operation to purchase illegal drugs from the rear of her address.

In the final charge, she is accused of possessing €1,350, proceeds of criminal conduct, in various denominations while knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether or not the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

She sat silently throughout the brief hearing as Garda Sergeant Michael Harkin told Judge McHugh that she was initially arrested at her home at 12.06pm on Thursday and taken to Blanchardstown station and charged.

A certificate detailing the procedure was then handed into court.

Defence solicitor Simon Fleming told the court that there was consent to bail and agreement to the conditions sought.

Garda Harkin asked that Ms Maher "not have restricted breed dogs in her home and the back door of her property be used for emergency reasons only and not facilitate the sale and supply of drugs.

Judge McHugh added those terms to her bail bond and noting that gardaí are awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions, he ordered her to appear again on July 22nd.

Mr Fleming explained that his client was on disability and legal aid was granted.

About two hours later, gardaí brought two more women before Judge McHugh on connected charges.

They were Ms Maher's daughter, Jade Hennessey (32), also of Sheephill Avenue, and 26-year-old Kayleigh McEntee, of Waterville Row, Blanchardstown.

Ms Hennessy is accused of possessing cocaine for sale or supply at the family home and €1,575 in crime proceeds on April 3rd.

Kayleigh McEntee is charged with possessing €6,875 in crime earnings at her co-defendants' home on the same date.

Garda Declan Meehan and Gavin Campbell said they "made no reply" when charged at Finglas station and there were no objections to bail.

Mr Fleming, acting for both women, said they were unemployed and Judge McHugh granted legal aid.

Neither addressed the court nor stated how they would plead.

Contact numbers must be provided, and they must sign in three days a week. They will return on July 22nd for the DPP's directions.