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Gardai at the scene in Cherrywood Business Park on Sunday. Eamonn Farrell via RollingNews.ie

'Chance in a million': Mark Hennessy died after bullet ricocheted off his collarbone and tore artery

Many had wrongly criticised the garda for shooting Hennessy in the head.

SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER AND murderer Mark Hennessy died after he was shot through the shoulder by a garda detective.

Following a post-mortem examination of his body, TheJournal.ie understands that Hennessy was shot in the shoulder and that the bullet bounced off his collarbone and ricocheted into an artery.

Some people on social media had criticised the gardaí when it was originally reported that Hennessy was shot in the head at Cherrywood Business Park in south Dublin on Sunday evening. It has been alleged he was armed with a knife and had moved to attack an unarmed garda when he was shot dead.

Armed gardaí are trained to shoot for the centre mass of the body. They do not shoot to kill. Well-informed sources have said that the way the bullet reacted in this instance was very unusual and would be incredibly difficult to recreate. Sources said there was “a chance in a million” of this occurring.

Gsoc is currently investigating the shooting incident. This is regular procedure when a garda firearm is discharged.

Gardaí are investigating if a friend of Jastine Valdez’s suspected killer spotted him on Sunday after alerts about his car had been sent nationwide – and then did not inform gardaí.

TheJournal.ie understands that Hennessy was spotted on Killiney Beach on Sunday morning – the day after he allegedly killed Jastine and hours before he was shot dead during an incident with gardaí.

It is believed he was seen by a friend who had been out searching for him following the release of garda alerts. This person, it is claimed, decided to see if he could track his movements without alerting gardaí.

It is understood that he passed on this information to someone else who knew Hennessy – but not to gardaí.

Gardaí yesterday said that Hennessy may have been all over south Dublin over the weekend and have appealed to members of the public for information if they saw him.

Hennessy is described as being 5’9’’, of slight build and balding. He was wearing a dark coloured t-shirt, blue jeans and grey runners at the time.

“We would particularly like to speak with people who were in the; Dalkey, Killiney, Ballybrack, Sallynoggin, Cherrywood, Rathmichael areas. The car may have stopped at restaurants, cafes, petrol station shops or bars in those areas.

“If you travelled in this part of county Dublin between Saturday and Sunday evenings and you have a dashcam fitted please contact us and make the footage available to investigators.”

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Bray Garda Station on 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

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    Mute Quinny
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    Jun 30th 2024, 4:22 PM

    Adeleke is a Superstar, I’m looking forward to seeing her in the Olympics.

    335
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    Mute Sergio Reddan
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    Jun 30th 2024, 4:33 PM

    @Quinny: yes she is amazing but let’s put this in perspective : 11.33 is the 184th fastest time this year / she still has a good bit to go to be in contention for an Olympic medal at 100m

    55
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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Jun 30th 2024, 5:13 PM

    @Sergio Reddan: She is not taking part in the 100m in Olympics. It’s not her event

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    Mute airedezamba
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    Jun 30th 2024, 5:31 PM

    @Sergio Reddan: I think there is a typo…it shd be 11:13

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    Mute Sergio Reddan
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    Jun 30th 2024, 5:41 PM

    @Shaun Gallagher: my bad

    9
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    Mute Kevin Dillon
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    Jun 30th 2024, 9:51 PM

    @Sergio Reddan: she is running the 400m in the Olympics and is one of the favourites. Hopefully she’ll go a bit better than her fourth place in the world champs.

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    Mute Philip Johnson
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    Jun 30th 2024, 4:59 PM

    She is something else delighted for her and all her hard work prevailing keep it up so proud of you

    144
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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Jun 30th 2024, 4:52 PM

    When one takes into account it’s the 400 meter race that she is her natural distance . The fact that she now holds the irish record in the 100,200 and 400 meter races is class

    148
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    Mute Ray Buckley
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    Jun 30th 2024, 6:47 PM

    What a woman , fantastic achievement .

    85
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    Mute Niall Murphy
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    Jun 30th 2024, 5:42 PM

    A fantastic athlete, roll on the Olympics and medal(s).

    78
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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Jun 30th 2024, 6:44 PM

    She’s brilliant!

    77
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    Mute john kenny
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    Jun 30th 2024, 7:08 PM

    Delighted for her. Great turnout for the games to watch our Irish superstars . Roll on Paris.

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    Mute denis silver
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    Jun 30th 2024, 4:27 PM

    Waits on the closure of the thread and comments like she’s not even Irish from the usual

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    Mute Brian I
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    Jun 30th 2024, 4:43 PM

    @denis silver: why would you then proceed to be the first to bring it up, absolutely pointless.

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    Mute denis silver
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    Jun 30th 2024, 4:52 PM

    @Brian I: except I wasn’t the first as someone said great to see all the Irish names

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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Favourite another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Jun 30th 2024, 6:48 PM

    @Brian I: They’ve been reported and removed by the mods

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    Mute Sarah O'Sullivan
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    Jun 30th 2024, 8:30 PM

    @denis silver: Why even mention that nonsense? Stop giving it oxygen!

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    Mute Kevin Dillon
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    Jun 30th 2024, 9:53 PM

    @denis silver: DYK

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    Mute Patrick K
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    Jul 1st 2024, 12:55 AM

    @denis silver: looks like your the only one of them creeps on here

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    Mute Patrick O'Leary
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    Jul 1st 2024, 12:34 AM

    She’s pretty phenomenal.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jul 1st 2024, 12:40 AM

    Different class!

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    Mute bernadette gleeson
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    Jul 1st 2024, 10:34 AM

    She is a great girl, representing her country so well.

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