December date set for killer Mark Hennessy’s inquest

A full inquest into the death of Mark Hennessy, who abducted and killed Jastine Valdez in Co Wicklow, will take place later this year.

Mr Hennessy (40) kidnapped the 24-year-old student as she walked home in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow on May 19th last year.

Members of the Hennessy family sat in the public gallery at Dublin Coroner’s Court as a date for the inquest was scheduled.

Nicholas Harden, senior investigating officer for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) told the court that all investigations into Mr Hennessy's death had concluded.

"The file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and no prosecution was directed. The file was examined by GSOC," Mr Harden said.

He applied to Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane for a hearing date for the inquest.

Mr Hennessy from Bray, Co Wicklow died from a gunshot wound to his arm and chest. He was shot by a garda at Cherrywood Business Park, Co Dublin on May 20th, 2018.

An autopsy was conducted by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan the day after his death.

The matter was referred to GSOC, which sought a six-month adjournment at the previous inquest hearing on December 6th, 2018.

The coroner granted the application and formally adjourned the inquest to resume on December 4th, 2019 for a full hearing.

Details of the hours leading up to the death of the Mr Hennessy will be heard at the inquest on December 4th.

An inquest into the death of Ms Valdez is scheduled to take place at Dublin Coroner’s Court on November 4th.

Ms Valdez had taken the 5.40pm bus from Bray to Enniskerry on Saturday, May 19th, 2018. She was making her way home when she was abducted on a busy road at 6.20pm.

A witness who saw her being bundled into a car raised the alarm. Her body was discovered two days later in woodlands at Rathmichael, south Dublin.