One source says the concerns centred on Johnny, the youngest of the family. Relatives were worried about his behaviour, and that someone could get hurt.
Gardaí followed up with a telephone call to the Hennessy brothers. It is not clear which or how many brothers were spoken to, but gardaí were assured the situation had been defused and there was no need for their intervention on the farm. Concerns were raised by a third party, not by any of the brothers, a source said. Gardaí then made contact with the brothers and the view was that there was no need for anyone to call up at that stage.
Tragedy has continued to dog the family.
Of the four brothers, Patrick was the only one who married. He had two children, Elaine and Paudie. In 2012, his son, Paudie (20) took his own life.
Two years later, in January 2014, the body of his uncle, Jer Hennessy, was recovered at the River Funshion.
One neighbour described him as a quiet man and a gentle soul who worked at the Cork Marts in Macroom.
Another neighbour said that whenever a farmer prodded his cattle too harshly or beat them too enthusiastically, Jer would get upset . He loved animals, the neighbour said.
According to a local acquaintance who met them regularly, the Hennessys were men made tough from eking out a living. They used their hands to put food on the table, and had dirt under their fingernails .