Brother of slain mum blasts sentencing of triple killer Andy Cash: 'Two lives have been ignored'

The brother of slain mother Sharon Whelan has hit out at the sentencing of triple killer Andy Cash saying: “two lives have been ignored.”

This week evil murderer Cash (26), was handed down three ‘life’ sentences, that are to run at the same time, for the brutal stab killings of his sister Lisa (18) and twin siblings Christy and Chelsea Cawley (8) in Tallaght on September 4, 2022.

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror, John Whelan, whose sister Sharon (30) and her two daughters Zarah (7) and Nadia (2) were murdered on Christmas Day 2008, said the Cash case came very close to home.

“Absolutely this case has affected me. I was talking to my family about it and we were discussing the similarities and just how our hearts go out to that family, knowing what they have to go through,” he said. “We know exactly what they are feeling. We have that shared experience so we know what the road is like and what’s still ahead of them.”

Like Cash, evil triple killer Brian Hennessy was sentenced to three life sentences – all of which are to run concurrently – effectively meaning he serves just one. Evil Hennessy raped and strangled Sharon, before setting fire to her home in Windgap, Co Kilkenny, killing her two girls Zarah and Nadia -in a tragedy which shocked the nation.

Now John Whelan says he feels that just like Hennessy, Cash has gotten off lightly – when he should be serving three life sentences back to back. “We were devastated back in 2009 to find out the way the system works with concurrent sentencing.

Lisa Cash and Chelsea and Christy Cawley

“The law only recognises one life. Again in our case and I presume in the Cash case, I ask which one is he serving the sentence for? It diminishes the other two lives. The way the sentence has been handed down, two lives have been ignored,” he said.

John believes that the law should recognise more heinous crimes like the one committed by Hennessy and Cash – and impose a ‘whole life’ sentence, similar to the one used for such offences in the UK.

“My family has been calling for this ever since our case back in 2009. 15 years on we are still being dragged through the system which has caused so much stress and anxiety. I think if there was a deterrent there like a whole life order, handed down in situations like my family and what happened to the Cash family and other families, that would work.

“I think families have enough to be dealing with to be dealing with the parole board just to keep the killer of their loved one in prison. That says a lot about where the priorities are. They seem to be for the perpetrator and not the victims or their families.”

Brian Hennessy leaving court

John pointed out that currently in Ireland a ‘life’ sentence means a prisoner is entitled to apply for parole from 12 years into their time behind bars – and then again every two years after that. In his own situation, ruthless killer Hennessy, who is serving his sentence in Dublin’s Arbour Hill Prison, is due to sit down before the parole board in the coming weeks.

“We met the board and the individual that we met could not have been more welcoming and wonderful to sit down and have a conversation with. I said to them from the start we should not be here today,” John explained.

Sharon Whelan

“I doubt very much that he will get out this time. It would be a brave person that would sign off on that. But in saying that now the system has changed and it is not the Minister anymore, it’s the board that signs off on it, which can be a little more anonymous. So it might be a little easier to sign off on these things.”

John added that he feels that the use of the term ‘life sentence’ in the media sometimes gives the impression to the public that a person is behind bars for the rest of their lives.“That’s not true and lots of families have been on to me about that. I’m well aware of the case.

Zsara Whelan, seven, (left) and Nadia Whelan, two and a half, during a visit to meet Santa Claus

“It doesn’t inform the public of exactly what’s after happening. The belief would be this guy is never going to get out of jail. But the truth of the matter is he can apply for parole after 12 years,” he said. “I’ve been asking for a long time for that to change.”

In Ireland the average life sentence now sees a person spending a minimum of 20 years behind bars. In some more severe and infamous cases, some prisoners have remained in jail for upwards of 40 years. John says he now hopes that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee enacts on changing the law to allow judges to hand down lengthier sentences for evil killers.

“I think the current minister has said this is something that’s going to be looked at. We are pretty encouraged by that. She’s the first Minister of Justice to say this can be looked at and this is an option,” he said.

In November of last year, the Minister said her department was working on laws that could allow a judge to recommend that a person not be considered for parole for 20 or 30 years – or even longer.

Asked about the government’s plan to address the issue, a spokesperson for Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she intends to introduce new proposals before the summer that will see judges being granted new powers to recommend a minimum period a life sentence prisoner should serve.

“Minister McEntee intends to seek Government approval to progress a Life Sentences Bill to provide for judges to set a recommended minimum period before a person is released on parole,” a Department of Justice spokesman told us.

“This will ensure judges can fully reflect the gravity of these most serious crimes. Recommendations will address the minimum period to be served, while not creating any presumption towards release on the expiry of this minimum period. The Minister expects to bring a proposal to Government before the summer.”

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