Ireland Case No. 4062Attempted murder · Co. Dublin · 16 Nov 2023
Darragh Quigley jailed for 13 years over attempted murder of Gretta McCullough in Dublin city centre
Darragh Quigley, 26, was sentenced to 13 years in prison (with the final year suspended for five years) after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough, 64, whom he stabbed in the neck with a seven-inch bread knife at Chatham Row, Dublin 2, on 16 November 2023. The judge described the attack as 'totally unprovoked' and noted Quigley had travelled to the city centre with 'a plan to hunt someone' while actively psychotic due to untreated schizophrenia.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Jan
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatQuigley attacked McCullough from behind with a knife in the South William Street area (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe blade miraculously missed all crucial structures (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe judge noted an element of planning as Quigley armed himself and travelled to the city centre (irishtimes.com)
- whatQuigley told gardaí he felt disgusted and had genuine remorse (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim described the sensation as a brick being smashed into the back of her head (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe incident robbed McCullough of her independence and confidence and left her with a persistent underlying vulnerability (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was stabbed in the neck with a seven-inch knife from behind (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim was walking with her husband to see the Christmas lights being turned on (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe knife went right through the neck, entering on the left and exiting on the right (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim's wound was superficial, 1cm in depth, and was closed by a suture at St James Hospital (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe knife entered the left side of the neck and exited the right side (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim made a full recovery and did not require inpatient treatment (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at Chatham Row, Dublin 2 (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack took place at Chatham Row, Dublin 2, in the South William Street area (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Chatham Row, Dublin 2 (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred around 9.45pm on 16 November 2023 (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- causeQuigley was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was actively psychotic at the time of the offence (irishmirror.ie)
- causeQuigley had stopped taking his prescribed medication before the offence (irishmirror.ie)
- causeCannabis abuse was identified as a contributory factor (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe weapon was a seven-inch bread knife belonging to Quigley's father (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe weapon was a seven-inch bread knife belonging to the defendant's father (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage showed Quigley followed the couple for a number of minutes before the attack (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationQuigley was arrested at his father's house the day after the attack (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA UK-based psychiatrist found Quigley did not meet the legal criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe defendant was arrested the following day at his father's house and brought to Pearse Street Station (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeQuigley pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of McCullough (irishtimes.com)
- chargeQuigley pleaded guilty to attempted murder (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty to attempted murder (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was set at 14½ years imprisonment (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was set at 14 years and 6 months (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceQuigley was sentenced to 13 years with the final year suspended for 5 years (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 17 November 2023 (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at 14 years and six months (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant was sentenced to 13 years in prison with the final year suspended for five years (dublinlive.ie)
- otherQuigley had stopped taking his medication (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuigley was diagnosed with schizophrenia (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuigley had a significant history of mental health involvement since his teenage years (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuigley was diagnosed in 2023 with drug-induced psychosis (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuigley was actively psychotic at the time of the offence (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuigley did not meet the legal criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity (irishtimes.com)
- otherCannabis abuse was a contributory factor (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere was no evidence Quigley was intoxicated at the time (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuigley had stopped adhering to his mental health treatment regime (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe psychiatrist found Quigley could have restrained himself from committing the act (irishtimes.com)
- otherA UK-based psychiatrist provided the expert evidence (irishtimes.com)
- otherQuigley had no previous convictions (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was originally from Northern Ireland and had moved to Australia at age 20 (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe victim and her husband had returned to Ireland six months before the offence (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe defendant was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was actively psychotic at the time of the offence (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe defendant did not meet the legal criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity (dublinlive.ie)
- otherCannabis abuse was identified as a contributory factor to the offence (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe defendant had no previous convictions (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe victim had come to Dublin city centre to see the Christmas lights being turned on (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Jan2026Man jailed after plunging knife through grandmother's neck in Dublin city
Sentencing hearing before Mr Justice Paul Burns; Quigley received 13 years (headline 14 years 6 months) with final year suspended for five years, backdated to 17 November 2023. Victim made a full recovery. Psychiatric evidence of active schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis noted but insanity defence not met.
victim, Gretta McCullough, 64, female, non-irish (judged from name)Gretta McCulloughconvicted, Darragh Quigley, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quigley - 20 Jan2026Man jailed for plunging knife into woman's neck when she came to see Xmas lights
Sentencing report: headline sentence of 14 years and 6 months reduced to 13 years for guilty plea and letter of remorse, with final year suspended for 5 years, backdated to 17 November 2023. UK-based psychiatrist found Quigley was actively psychotic with schizophrenia but did not meet legal criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity. Victim made full recovery; wound was 1cm deep and closed by suture.
victim, Gretta McCullough, 64, female, non-irish (judged from name)Gretta McCulloughconvicted, Darragh Quigley, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quigley - 19 Jan2026Man (26) jailed over ‘totally unprovoked’ stabbing of grandmother in central Dublin
Sentencing details: headline sentence of 14½ years reduced to 13 years with final year suspended for five years, following a guilty plea. Psychiatric evidence established Quigley was actively psychotic but could distinguish right from wrong. Judge recommended a psychiatric assessment two months before release.
victim, Gretta McCullough, 64, female, irish (judged from name)Gretta McCulloughconvicted, Darragh Quigley, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quigley