Relief for Kilkenny family as killer refused parole for second time

The family of murdered Sharon, Nadia and Zarah Whelan have spoken of the 'huge sense of relief' that triple killer Brian Hennessy was refused parole this week.

Sharon and her daughters, aged seven and two, were murdered at their home close to Windgap on Christmas Eve, 2008. Brian Hennessy was convicted of all three murders and he was also refused parole in 2018.

Sharon's brother, John is involved in SAVE - Sentencing and Victim Equality, a campaign group set up by John and other families whose loved ones have been taken from them through violent crime.

"We got a phone call last night to say that Brian Hennessy was refused parole, there was a huge sense of relief when we heard that," he said but added that changes are needed regarding both sentencing and parole hearings to provide better support for the families of murder victims.

"Myself and my wife Sandra went and spoke to the parole board over a year ago. It is traumatic to relive it and it has an impact. We spoke to the board of the impact of the deaths of Sharon and the girls and also the impact of having to go through the parole process every few years. It makes healing impossible.

"Brian Hennessy can apply for parole again in February 2026 and that won't be a long time coming around. It is traumatising for families, there has to be a better way and this needs to be addressed," said John.

John along with other members of SAVE are also calling for a tarriff system which would mean that a convicted murderer would not be eligible to apply for parole  after 20 or 25 or 30 years or a whole life tarriff can be imposed.

"Under a tarriff system families would have a decent bit of time to get support.

"At the moment in Ireland a life sentence for murder means 12 years and then the killer can apply for parole every two years after that.  

"I told my parents yesterday that he was refused bail and their minds went to February 2026. It is like a ticking clock. We hold Sharon and Nadia and Zarah in our hearts and it is still very tough and raw, especially at family occasions. It is hard that as a family we have to appeal to keep a psychopath behind bars. He can see our input into the parole process but we are told nothing about him, it is imbalanced," he added.

In 2009 Hennessy was convicted of the triple murders and given three life sentences – one for murdering Sharon Whelan and one for each of the children, to run concurrently after the first life sentence was served. In 2010 the convicted murderer succeeded in his bid to have all three sentences run concurrently.