Evil killer who murdered Irish woman alongside two daughters LOSES freedom bid as family open up on ‘living nightmare’

[]

DEPRAVED killer Brian Hennessy has lost his latest bid for freedom, it has emerged

Hennessy was told by the Parole Board today that his latest application to be released from Arbour Hill Prison in Dublin had been rejected.

[] 5

[] 5

[] 5

And the killer – who murdered Sharon Whelan, 30, and her two girls Zarah, 7 and Nadia, 2, at their home in Windgap, Co Kilkenny, on Christmas Day, 2008 – has been told his next application can only be made in February, 2026.

Following the Parole Board’s decision, Sharon’s brother John told the Irish Sun of his relief.

This was the second time the monster had made a bid for freedom.

Hennessy who was classified as a “loner” by Gardai raped and killed Sharon then waited between four and five hours before setting fire to her isolated home and killing her children.

READ MORE IRISH NEWS

[newspress-collage-ctz653dfs-1718869289979.jpg]

KILL CHARGE

Man, 67, charged with murder of farmer, 73, found dead in bathroom of home

[newspress-collage-ep0w90xeo-1718878280364.jpg]

FATAL ASSAULT

Man, 50s, dies after being stabbed in Finglas as second man, 30s, arrested

He said: “We have a bit of respite for a while but we will have to go through this whole process once again in 2026.

“We are glad that we got to meet the Parole Board to outline our concerns about Hennessy’s release.

“My sister’s killer gets to hear why we think he shouldn’t be released but we don’t get to see his reasons on why he should be released from prison.

“The whole parole process is re-traumatising and every year the possibility of him getting parole is getting closer.

MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN

[An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows NINTCHDBPICT001102122550, Image 2 shows NINTCHDBPICT001102122548]

CHILDREN OF WAR

Nursery kids held at gunpoint by 'terrorists' in chilling Russian drills

[An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Aghios Sostis Beach in Zakynthos, Greece, with people sunbathing and swimming, and a small rocky island in the distance]

SEA TRAGEDY

Brit tourist, 34, dies after being pulled from sea on Greek holiday island

[An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Law enforcement at the scene of a crash on the M9 in Co Kildare]

DRIVING COURSE

Gardai sent for pursuit training after horrific M9 crash that killed 5 teens

[An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows An aerial photo of a large bubbling disturbance in the ocean from a pipeline leak]

UNDERWATER ATTACK

Second Ukrainian diver arrested over 2022 Nord Stream pipeline blast

“We welcome the Parole Board’s decision and it brings some relief to allow our family to focus on the present until 2026.”

Despite making his application for freedom, Hennessy has never shown any remorse for killing Sharon and her two children in a house blaze.

Victims’ campaigner John also told of his concerns if his sister’s killer is ever freed.

He said: “We have huge concerns for our family but also for the community if he’s released.

“We know he has a relative who lives close to one of our relatives and what happens if we went to that house? That would just be more trauma for our family to endure.

“We know he will get out someday but that day shouldn’t be after 16 years.

“He has been in prison since 2009 and we firmly believe that a tariffsystem is theonly way to deal with people who commit such horrific crimes such as the murder of my sister and her children.

“We are the people who have been left with a life sentence – not him.”

PARENTS STILL LIVING THROUGH NIGHTMARE

At present, any family whose loved one was lost to violence has to register with the Parole Board.

And the murder victim’s brother also told us of the devastation experienced by his elderly parents Nancy, 78 and Christy, 81.

He added: “My parents are still living through the nightmare of losing their eldest daughter in such a cruel and evil manner.

“The first thing they do in the morning and the last thing they do at night every single day is go to Sharon’s grave.

“They used to be so social and enjoy mixing with other people but their lives were destroyed when Hennessy took Sharon and their grandchildren from them.”

When convicted, he was given a life sentence for Sharon’s murder and one for the two children.

But Hennessy later appealed this decision and is now serving just one life sentence for all three of the lives he took.

John added: “We still don’t know what crime he is serving the life sentence for. Is it for Sharon or is it for the children? Why can’t the State tell us this?

“He took three lives and in our view he should have received life for each one life should mean life but we know it doesn’t in this country.

“People need to remember that when he killed Sharon he waited for four or five hours and then deliberately killed the children when there was absolutely no need for him to do this.”

[] 5

[] 5