Jastine Valdez abduction and murder was 'exceptional and unusual in society,' inquest concludes

“This has been a most difficult inquest for those centrally involved and the Hennessy family in particular. The tragic events that unfolded over a period of a little more than 48 hours in May 2018 were exceptional and unusual in society. The public were very moved by the plight of Jastine Valdez," Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said.

“The outcome has meant that two families lives were changed irreparably."

The coroner commended "brave acts on behalf of the public and first responders, sadly without the desired outcome."

The jury returned a narrative verdict and issued a number of recommendations, including the establishment of one central communications radio channel for gardai in emergency situations.

Mark Hennessy was shot and killed by a member of An Garda Siochana on May 20, 2018 following an intensive search for Jastine Valdez, who was abducted from Enniskerry, Co Wicklow the previous day.

The Hennessy family do not believe there was any malice involved in the shooting of Mark Hennessy, the inquest heard.

“In relation to Detective Garda A the family are of the view that his view was reasonably held, that there was no malice in this situation. The family wish to express their gratitude to the jury and all parties involved in this investigation, criminal and civil,” Dermot Hickey, solicitor for the family said.

The inquest previously heard that the Garda who shot Mr Hennessy said he was left with no other option as he believed Jastine Valdez was in the car and in imminent danger.

Hennessy’s family were present in Dublin Coroner’s Court for the duration of the inquest, which concluded after three days of evidence. Family members met Mark Hennessy in a car park in Killiney at 3.31pm on the day he died. He was alone in the car and the family passed this information to gardai.

Mr Hickey asked Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) Senior Investigator Nicholas Harden if this information had been relayed to gardai who attended the scene of the shooting at Cherrywood Business Park at 8pm.

“I was aware of that interaction with the relative, four and a half hours preceding the incident. By the time the Cherrywood incident happened the situation could have changed,” Mr Harden said.

A jury member asked if there was any Garda in charge at the scene of the shooting of Mr Hennessy.

“In a highly stressful dynamic situation as this was, the aim was to get the job done. There wasn’t time to sort out who was in charge,” Mr Harden replied.

The inquest heard that a post-incident manager position is to be created to deal with fatal firearm incidents involving gardai, to act as a conduit between GSOC and the officer involved. The post-incident manager will be a member of An Garda Siochana. The jury endorsed this development as part of their recommendations.

“The system not in place yet but has been operating very well in the UK and will be adopted soon here,” Mr Harden said.

The body of Jastine Valdez was located at 3pm on May 21, the day after Hennessy’s death, in thick gorse and undergrowth at Pucks Castle, Rathmichael, Co Dublin.