Ireland Man sentenced for assault causing harm in Tallaght
Matthew Hayes Rice, 29, a man, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after stabbing a female childhood friend in the side with a knife during a fight over drug consumption at Exchange Hall, Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on June 15, 2020. The woman sustained a 9cm deep stab wound and was treated at Tallaght Hospital. Rice disappeared from his scheduled sentencing in July 2026 and was picked up by Gardaí almost three months later while collecting social welfare. He was sentenced in the Circuit Criminal Court in October 2026 to two years and three months in jail, with credit for time served.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 Oct
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced13 Oct
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Matthew Hayes Rice, 29, a man, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after stabbing a female childhood friend in the side.
- Where
- The assault took place at Exchange Hall, Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
- When
- The assault took place on June 15, 2020.
- Cause
- The stabbing occurred during a fight over drug consumption, and a physical confrontation broke out in the victim's home during which the sister kicked the woman in the mouth.
- Weapon
- Rice had a knife in his pocket.
- Investigation
- The injured party identified Rice and showed gardai a message he sent after the incident, but nothing of evidential value was obtained when Rice spoke to gardai.
- Charges
- He was charged with assault under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
- In court
- He appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court and disappeared after his name was not called before lunch at the sentencing hearing scheduled for July 2026.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to two years and three months in jail, with a headline sentence of four years and six months reduced, and credit for time served.
- Other details
- Rice was an FAI coach with three young children, had a number of previous convictions, and took three bench warrants in this case.
- He was collecting social welfare when picked up by Gardaí almost three months after disappearing from court.
27 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMatthew Hayes Rice is 29 years old. (gript.ie)
- whatA man stabbed a female childhood friend in the side. (gript.ie)
- whatThe accused is 29 years old. (gript.ie)
- whatMatthew Hayes Rice pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was stabbed and treated at Tallaght Hospital for a 9cm deep stab wound to her side. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHis address is Bushypark, Terenure, Dublin 6W. (gript.ie)
- whereThe accused's address is Bushypark, Terenure, Dublin 6W. (gript.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at Exchange Hall, Belgard Square North, Tallaght, Dublin 24. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe sentencing was scheduled for July 2026. (gript.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on June 15, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe stabbing occurred during a fight over drug consumption. (gript.ie)
- causeA physical confrontation broke out in the victim's home, during which the sister kicked the woman in the mouth. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponRice had a knife in his pocket. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe injured party identified Rice and showed gardai a message he sent after the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationNothing of evidential value was obtained when Rice spoke to gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was due to be sentenced for assault under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (gript.ie)
- courtHe has appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
- courtHe was supposed to be sentenced the previous July. (gript.ie)
- courtHe left court and was picked up by Gardaí almost three months later. (gript.ie)
- courtThere was no victim impact statement. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan said the maximum sentence for assault causing harm is now 10 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to two years and three months in jail. (gript.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four years and six months, reduced to two years and three months. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge directed that Rice receive credit for any time served in custody on this case. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe disappeared after his name was not called before lunch at the sentencing hearing. (gript.ie)
- otherHe was collecting social welfare when picked up. (gript.ie)
- otherRice has a number of previous convictions and took three bench warrants in this case. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Oct2026FAI coach who stabbed close friend jailed: 'Shocking and grim'
Reports the sentencing of Matthew Hayes Rice to two years and three months for assault causing harm arising from a stabbing of a close friend in June 2020, including details of the altercation, the 9cm stab wound, and mitigation including his FAI coaching career and three young children.
convicted, Matthew Hayes Rice, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Hayes Ricevictim, female - 13 Oct2026Man jailed for stabbing childhood friend in Tallaght apartment - Gript
Provides the specific sentence of two years and three months and details that Rice left court before sentencing the previous July and was picked up by Gardaí almost three months later while collecting social welfare.
victim, femaleconvicted, Matthew Hayes Rice, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Hayes Rice - 5 Oct2026Man who dodged sentencing arrested collecting dole - Gript
Reports that Rice appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court after failing to attend his scheduled sentencing in July 2026, having disappeared when his name was not called before lunch.
accused, Matthew Hayes Rice, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Hayes Rice