The heartbroken family of an innocent man who was stabbed to death in a ferocious attack say the eight-year sentence of his killer who has a mental disorder is an outcome they can "accept".
Their lives were "shattered" after Gareth Kelly was stabbed five times by Christina Anderson, who he did not know, as he tried to start his car which was parked opposite her house over three years ago.
Ms 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.
"Nothing imposed was ever going to give us justice for taking Gar away from his family.
"Tragically Gar was taken so horrifically and left us enduring the Irish criminal justice system and hoping to have answers or try make sense of the events that occurred that horrible day."
She added: "His killer was sentenced to 11yrs with the final 3 suspended for 4yrs while serving 8yrs for the Manslaughter by diminished responsibility meaning she can’t be held 100% legally responsible for her actions whether we agree or disagree with psychiatric forensic evidence.
"All considering we find this to be an outcome we can accept. She has been convicted for an unlawful killing and will serve [a] sentence."
Lorraine also explained that the criminal justice system is "complicated and complex" but says they got "accountability" for Gareth.
She added: "We as a family will now hopefully close this chapter of our loss of Gar and move forward as a family and remind his children daily of how much he loved his kids and to ensure his memory lives on and continue his legacy of #familyiseverything.
"On behalf of my family and I I’d like to thank our family and friends for all the support and comfort throughout this process it is very much appreciated."
At the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor said the offence fell into the most serious category but for the fact Anderson's responsibility is diminished.
She told how the attack was "ferocious" and it was carried out on a defenceless man who she did not know as he sat in his car.
Killer Anderson returned after the initial stabbing and knifed Mr Kelly again while he was on the ground.
But the judge said she was "highly dominated by her mental condition."
Addressing Mr Kelly's family, Ms Justice O'Connor said it is "not possible to put words on the sense of loss and heartbreak" that they continue to suffer.
She described Mr Kelly as a hard-working man, loved by and devoted to his family. She said the court "must mark the damage caused to those left behind."
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