Killer Hennessy not linked to any other assaults Works set to start at dangerous junction
GARDAI have determined that killer Mark Hennessy is not linked to any other murders or other serious crimes after a lengthy trawl of the DNA database.
Hennessy (40) was shot dead by a garda detective on May 20, around 24 hours after he abducted and murdered 24-year-old Jastine Valdez from Enniskerry.
An investigation into his shooting is still under way.
For weeks, specialist officers have been comparing Hennessy’s DNA in an attempt to establish connections between him and any other serious crimes, including unsolved murders and sex assaults.
No such link has been found, and a senior source said that the abduction and murder of Jastine is being treated as hugely out of character’ for the killer.
‘There was nothing in his background to suggest that he would carry out such a crime and there is no evidence at all linking him to any other serious crime, as the DNA database has come back with nothing,’ according to a source.
Hennessy was not known to gardai for any serious criminal behaviour. However, he had previous convictions dating back to his early twenties.
The DNA database introduced in 2014 is used to match crime scene profiles during garda investigations as well as identifying missing and unknown persons.
Gardai have still not received toxicology and other reports in relation to the murder, which is classified as being ‘detected’.
It has also emerged that Hennessy’s devastated Welsh wife and mother of his two children has left Ireland and is now based in England with her children at her sister’s home. BADLY needed safety works will commence over the next two weeks at an accident black spot in Manor Kilbride.
The safety measures will be carried out at the junction on the R759 east of Manor Kilbride, known as The Branch. The location is notorious for the number of accidents and near-accidents which have taken place down through the years.
In 2017 fed-up locals organised a petition where over 100 signatures were collected and presented to Wicklow County Council calling for some form of safety measures.
Some elderly members of the local community insist that they have been looking for road safety works for the best part of 40 years.
Cllr Gerry O’Neill has welcomed the news that the works are due to commence shortly.
He said: ‘I am delighted to learn that works will start within the next two weeks. This is a notorious junction which has seen many different accidents over the years so this is good news for the people of Manor Kilbride, and for road users in general.
‘I also want to pay tribute to our Local Engineer and the landowner whose land will be impacted due to the improvements at the junction. Finally, I want to commend the people who organised the petition calling for funding to be made available for these essential works to be carried out.’
€145,000 was allocated toward the safety works in February of this year.