Northern Ireland

Gunman stabbed to death inside restaurant attempted to flee out back but door was locked

Tristan Sherry (26) was stabbed nearly 30 times inside the Blanchardstown restaurant on Christmas Eve

Gunman Tristan Sherry was stabbed to death inside the Blanchardstown restaurant

A gunman stabbed to death inside a restaurant in west Dublin had attempted to flee through a back door, but it was locked, it has emerged as gardai continue to investigate.

Tristan Sherry (26), from Finglas, was stabbed 27 times inside Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve after he entered the premises and began firing off rounds from a sub-machine gun. He was also beaten.

Shooting and stabbing happened at Brownes Steakhouse in Blanchardstown

A video of the moments around the time of the killing is circulating on social media while a GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for his funeral costs. It was set up by his mother Marey Hand but was no longer up and running on Wednesday.

Ms Hand wrote: “My son was murdered on Christmas Eve, his name was Tristan Sherry. We made this to raise money for his funeral cost in this difficult time.





“He was an amazing son, brother, father and friend. We can’t believe life has to go on without him.”

A 47-year-old man is being treated in hospital for serious injuries after Sherry entered the restaurant and opened fire at approximately 8pm on Sunday.

Gardai are treating the incident as a gang-related and believe it is linked to an ongoing feud among criminals in the Finglas area. No arrests have been made.

According to reports, the gunman, after opening fire, attempted to flee out of a back door of the restaurant. But he was unable to do so as the door was locked.

He then ran back into the main area where he was overpowered by several individuals. Footage was taken of the death. The clip shows him on the ground and bloody before being turned over and struck on the head.

Gardai have appealed to the public not to share the video. Patrols have been stepped up in the area in response to the shooting and stabbing.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Damien Storan/PA)

Taoiseach Leo Vardakar said he was “shocked” to hear about the shooting at “a well known family restaurant I’ve visited many times”.

“Full Garda investigation under way. My thanks to them and solidarity to staff and customers,” he said on X.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that the attack taking place where families had gathered was “disgusting”.

Ms McEntee said that securing the pardon was a ‘very rare occurrence’
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee . (Niall Carson/PA)

“I deplore the violence in Blanchardstown tonight. This viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas,” she said on Instagram.