The Garda who shot Mark Hennessy has told his inquest he believed Jastine Valdez's throat was being slit and she was at “imminent risk of death.”

40-year-old Mark Hennessy abducted and killed Ms Valdez in Enniskerry in Wicklow in May 2018, before being found by Gardaí in a business park in Dublin.

Detective Garda A told the inquest his aim was to rescue Jastine Valdez and arrest Mark Hennessy.

He and two Garda colleagues tracked down Mr Hennessy in his Nissan Qashqai at the Cherrywood Business Park in Dublin.

He believed Jastine could be alive and said Mark Hennessy looked agitated and attempted to move his car when he approached.

He said he could see a Stanley knife in Mr Hennessy's hand and he looked like a man possessed.

Garda A said it looked like Mr Hennessy was struggling with someone in the front, and he shouted: “armed police, put the fucking knife down.”

He said he observed the knife being moved and thought Mark Hennessy was slitting Jastine Valdez's throat.

He told the inquest he believed there was an immediate threat to her life so he discharged his revolver, aimed it at Mr Hennessy's chest and shot one round.

He said he could see Mr Hennessy was very badly injured and bleeding from his mouth.

He said his stomach dropped and his heart sank when he realised Ms Valdez wasn’t in the vehicle.

The inquest continues.

Reporting from Shane Beatty at Dublin Coroner's Court