Arsonist almost sets fire to himself in attack linked to west Dublin feud

CCTV capturing the arson attack, which occurred in Blanchardstown six days after the attempted hit on Devon Hennessy, reveals how the perp’s petrol bomb exploded within seconds of him setting it alight.

It was carried out by associates of the Hennessy crew in response to the attempt on Devon’s life.

Gardai also believe those caught up in the feud are upping their personal protection as tit- for-tat attacks continue.

Feud target Devon Hennessy had a bullet-proof BMW seized from him as part of the investigation into a botched daylight attempt on his life on August 2.

Sources say it’s suspected this vehicle had formerly been used by associates of the Dundon crime faction in Limerick.

And our sources also say officers in west Dublin have ‘played a blinder’ in stopping the simmering dispute developing into all-out warfare in the wake of the murder of Devon’s father Jason Hennessy at Browne’s steakhouse on Christmas Eve.

But they warn resources are being stretched thinly as the toll of policing the dispute mounts.

Exclusive footage of an arson attack on a property in Blanchardstown, days after the botched hit on Devon, shows how inexperienced youths are being drawn into the deadly dispute with the thug almost setting himself alight.

The footage shows the attacker reversing a jeep through the property’s metal gates.

He then gets out of the driver’s door of the vehicle and lights a petrol bomb that appears to explode as he fires it back inside the vehicle.

He can then be seen fleeing on foot from the scene as the vehicle catches alight, in the apparent hope the blaze will spread to the house.

“There are a lot of younger kids getting dragged into this,” a source told the Sunday World.

“There is a lot of tension in west Dublin because there’s a recognition both sides are hell-bent on getting revenge.

“The attempted hit on Devon Hennessy has only added to those tensions.”

Equally, sources say, associates of gunman Tristan Sherry, who was beaten and stabbed to death after he gunned down Jason Hennessy Snr, are determined to avenge his death.

Further evidence of the feud’s deadly potential came late last week when more than 40 bullets were found during a planned search of waste ground in west Dublin where associates of the Hennessy gang is suspected of hiding drugs and ammunition.

A sawn-off shotgun and around €200,000 worth of drugs were found at the same location by members of the Finglas Drugs Unit in an earlier search in May.

An 18-year-old was sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court in connection with the May seizure earlier this week.

Diarmuid O’Brien had been refused bail earlier after being charged with unlawful possession of a side-by-side double-barrelled shotgun on May 7 at Tolka Valley Park, contrary to the Firearms Act.

The youth has connected charges for possessing cocaine, cannabis and heroin worth almost €70,000 for sale or supply at the same location.

He was 17 at the outset of the criminal proceedings but has since reached adulthood.

A State solicitor told Judge Shalom Binchy that the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that Mr O’Brien be sent for trial to the Special Criminal Court.

The DPP had furnished a certificate under section 46.2 of the Offences Against the State Act that, in this case, “the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice”.

Judge Binchy told the accused that he must notify the prosecution if he intended to use an alibi.

She also ordered the gardai to hand over interview videos to the defence.

Solicitor Andrew Molony said his client sought bail, but the application faced objections from investigating garda Daniel Sweeney.

The officer contended that refusing bail was necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence, and the teen was connected to an “ongoing feud in Blanchardstown”.

He agreed with Mr Molony that the youth had not been holding the gun when caught but said “he was digging it out of the ground”.

Judge Binchy refused bail and granted a return-for-trial order, sending him forward, in custody, to the Special Criminal Court.

The teen, who did not address the court and has yet to indicate a plea, was granted legal for the trial, to be represented at his trial by solicitor Simon Fleming, a barrister and a senior counsel.

The Corduff feud began in earnest in 2019 when a gang from the area split into two factions, who began fighting over the local drugs trade.