Two arrested and firearm seized as gardaí foil suspected gangland hit targeting associates of Jason Hennessy Snr

A loaded fully automatic firearm was intercepted in west Dublin yesterday afternoon with gardaí believing the weapon was being transported ahead of a planned shooting.

A man and woman, from the south-west of the city, have been arrested for firearms offences while a young girl was also in the car when it was intercepted.

Gardaí are investigating if the lethal firearm was being moved ahead of a potential hit on younger associates of Jason 'Jay' Hennessy Snr.

The 48-year-old was gunned down in Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24 in a crime that made international headlines after the shooter was confronted at the scene and killed.

Hennessy Snr was rushed to hospital with serious gunshot injuries but died over a week later.

At around 4pm on Friday, detectives attached to Blanchardstown garda station and members of the Emergency Response Unit stopped a car in the Mulhuddart area.

During a search of the car a loaded machine gun was recovered. A man, aged in his 20s, and a woman, aged in her 30s, were arrested and taken in for questioning.

A young girl was also in the car at the time of the arrests.

A source told the Irish Independent: "This was a significant operation and gardaí suspect the weapon was being moved ahead of a planned hit.

"The two in custody are suspected of playing a logistical role in the movement of the firearm and investigations are ongoing.

"Local gardaí have to be commended for ensuring that a dangerous weapon has been taken off the streets".

There have been serious concerns of further violence in the area ever since the high-profile gun attack on Christmas Eve.

Jason Hennessy Snr was shot a number of times before the gunman, Tristan Sherry (26), was confronted at the scene and disarmed.

He subsequently died as a result of serious injuries sustained during the incident and a number of people are currently before the courts in relation to his death.

A garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí arrested a man and woman following the discovery of a firearm on Friday, 16th February 2024 in Dublin 15.

“The firearm was seized when a vehicle was stopped by gardaí at around 3.30pm on the Old Navan Road

“The man (20s) and woman (30s) are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at a Garda Station in the DMR Region.

“The firearm is subject to analysis by the Ballistics Section of the Garda National Technical Bureau.

“Investigations ongoing.”