Gar's family accept killer 8yr jail term

THE heartbroken family of an innocent man who was stabbed to death say the eight-year sentence for his killer, who has a mental disorder, is an outcome they can "accept".

- JOHN HAND

The family say their lives were "shattered" after Gareth Kelly was stabbed five times by Christina Anderson as he tried to start his car which was parked opposite her house more than three years ago.

Anderson, of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin, was this week jailed for eight years, with a further three suspended, after her plea of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

The State agreed Anderson was experiencing a psychotic episode due to bipolar affective disorder but did not qualify for the full defence of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Mr Kelly's sister Lorraine said that nothing could ever give them justice for the 38-year-old father's death.

Writing on social media, she said: "25th Feb 2020 was the day our world shattered, sadly our family has never been the same since.