Man (42) with 'an acquired brain injury' pleads guilty to attempted murder of woman in Dublin

Alison O’Riordan

A 42-year-old man with "an acquired brain injury" has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a woman in the north of Dublin city nearly a year ago.

At a brief arraignment at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, Matthias Kelly, of no fixed abode in Coolock in Dublin, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Fiona Timmermans at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh in Dublin 17 on September 7th 2024.

Kelly also pleaded guilty to having entered a building known as Newbury Lawns in Clonshaugh as a trespasser, to commit an arrestable offence therein, to wit, attempted murder on the same occasion.

The defendant further pleaded guilty to producing in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit, a kitchen knife with a serrated blade, in the course of a dispute on the same occasion.

In addition, Kelly admitted making a threat to kill Ms Timmermans at an unknown location within the State on September 1st 2024, intending her to believe it would be carried out.

Kelly also pleaded guilty to damaging property without lawful excuse, to wit, the sitting room window and front bedroom window belonging to Jennifer Barror, intending such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged at Millbrook Avenue, Coolock in Dublin 13 on September 6th 2024.

Defence counsel James Dwyer SC told the court that a trial date of January 26th, 2026, had previously been set and that could now be vacated.

Mr Dwyer informed Mr Justice Paul McDermott that Kelly has an acquired brain injury, which appeared to be operative at the time these offences were committed.

Counsel asked the court to grant legal aid for a medical report, which was acceded to.

Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there would be victim impact evidence on the next date.

Mr Dwyer said he was also seeking a governor's, probation, and educational reports for his client, as well as a urine analysis.

Mr Justice McDermott directed that these reports and victim impact statements be prepared and adjourned the matter to November 10th, when a sentence hearing will take place.