Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3457Attempted murder, burglary, threats to kill, production of an article, criminal damage · Co. Dublin · 7 Sep 2024

Matthias Kelly jailed for 12 years over knife attack on former wife's friend in Dublin 17

Matthias Kelly, 43, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Fiona Timmermans, a friend of his former wife, in a knife attack at her home in Clonshaugh, Dublin 17, on 7 September 2024. He also received concurrent sentences for burglary, threats to kill, production of a knife, and criminal damage, all backdated to 9 September 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced26 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKelly stabbed the victim in the neck and head (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was treated at Beaumont Hospital for stab wounds to her forehead, face and neck (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was discharged from hospital the same day (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim kicked Kelly in the groin to fight back (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKelly suffered a brain injury in 2016 from a road traffic accident (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKelly had no prior convictions for violent offences (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKelly blamed the victim for the break-up of his marriage (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe judge noted self-induced intoxication was not an excuse or mitigating factor (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe judge noted it was not clear the brain injury affected Kelly's actions (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKelly was of no fixed abode in Coolock, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim awoke to see Kelly standing over her before the stabbing began (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack took place at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attack occurred on 7 September 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponKelly used a knife taken from the victim's kitchen (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKelly pleaded guilty to the attempted murder (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHeadline sentences were 16 years for attempted murder, 10 years for burglary, 8 years for threats to kill, and 4 years each for production of an article and criminal damage (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKelly was sentenced to 12 years for attempted murder (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKelly received 7 years for burglary, 6 years for threats to kill, and 3 years each for production of the knife and criminal damage, all concurrent (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceSentences were backdated to 9 September 2024 (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Mar2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for attempting to kill woman he blamed for break-up with wife

    Sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court before Judge Paul McDermott; headline sentences of 16, 10, 8 and 4 years reduced to 12, 7, 6 and 3 years after mitigation, all concurrent. Article also notes Kelly's father Eamon Kelly was shot dead in Killester in 2012.

    convicted, Matthias Kelly, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthias Kellyvictim, Fiona Timmermans, female, non-irish (judged from name)Fiona Timmermans