It was an emotional and happy day for Shawn Hennessey, who after nine years was granted daytime parole on Tuesday Sept. 23, at the Bowden Penitentiary.
Daytime parole allows Shawn to participate in the community, which includes spending time with his family during daytime hours, but he must report to a halfway house for the evenings.
The halfway house is located in Edmonton, which could prove to be difficult for work and family, but according to Barry Hennessey, father of Shawn, they are working diligently on finding him work closer to Edmonton.
Shawn will be in the halfway house for six months, and once his time is completed, will be permitted to go home.
“It’s a step closer to freedom,” Barry said.
Shawn’s parole board said during the hearing that he has worked hard while in the penitentiary, and has taken responsibility for his actions and shown sympathy for those hurt by the incident.
Along with working as an inmate, Shawn has been working on furthering his education.
It was in 2009 that Shawn and his brother-in-law Dennis Cheeseman pleaded guilty to manslaughter for their role in the shooting of four Mounties.
The two, who lived in Barrhead at the time, pleaded guilty to providing James Roszko a rifle, as well as giving Roszko a ride to his farm near Mayerthorpe on Mar. 3, 2005.
After the two men had dropped Roszko off at the property, Roszko found the four Mounties guarding his Quonset shed, where an investigation in regards to a marijuana grow-op and a automobile chop shop was underway.
Roszko ambushed Peter Schiemann, Anthony Gordon, Brock Myrol, and Leo Johnston, killing the officers prior to shooting himself.
Cheeseman received seven years and two months for his participation in the event, and received statutory release just last year.
Cheeseman was arrested recently for possession of a controlled substance after being caught with prescribed drugs that were not under his name.
Shawn received up to 10 years and four months for the occurrence, but was granted his request just Tuesday morning for an early daytime parole.
Shawn applied for early parole in 2012, but was denied by the court.
In 2013 Shawn was permitted unescorted temporary absence for up to 78 hours, in order to visit his family.
However, Tuesday in court Shawn was given the near freedom he had been longing for and fighting for for several years.
Shawn does not yet have a job, but has an offer to work construction in Barrhead, where is family still resides.
Barry said that there are all kinds of opportunities for Shawn in and around the area, however the real concern is finding him work closer to his halfway house so he does not cut it too close to his curfew.
“It would be nice if he was going home,” Barry said, adding that the family is just happy he is one step closer to freedom.
