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. 4293Attempted murder · Co. Dublin · 16 Nov 2023

Darragh Quigley remanded at sentencing hearing for stabbing grandmother at Chatham Row, Dublin

Gretta McCullough was stabbed with a seven-inch kitchen knife on Chatham Row, Dublin 2, on 16 November 2023, after walking through the city centre following a Christmas lights event with her husband. Darragh Quigley, a man, was seen following the couple from the Powerscourt Centre at about 9.45pm and ran away after the attack. He was arrested the following day, and he later pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough. At a sentencing hearing on 17 December 2025, a victim impact statement was read to the court and Quigley was remanded in custody pending sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gretta McCullough was struck with a seven-inch knife while walking through Dublin city centre.
  • Sources differ on the wound: one says the knife entered the left side and exited the right side of the victim's neck, while the court heard it passed through the back of her head.
  • The victim removed the knife herself and handed it to her husband, telling him she had been stabbed.
  • The victim said the defendant first tried to retrieve the knife from her head and then ran away.
Where
The attack happened on Chatham Row, Dublin 2, after a Christmas lights event.
When
At about 9.45pm on 16 November 2023, Darragh Quigley was seen following the victim and her husband from the Powerscourt Centre onto Chatham Row.
Weapon
The kitchen knife belonged to Quigley's father.
Investigation
Quigley was arrested the day after the attack.
Charges
Quigley pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough on 16 November 2023 at Chatham Row, Dublin 2.
Cause
Quigley has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had stopped complying with his medication regime at the time of the offence.
Other details
  • Quigley has no previous convictions but has come to Garda attention on several occasions for mental health issues.
  • The victim is originally from Northern Ireland, moved to Australia with her husband at 20, and returned to Ireland six months before the incident, settling in Westport.
In court
  • At the sentencing hearing on 17 December 2025, a victim impact statement was read to the court by a garda.
  • Quigley was remanded in custody pending sentence.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported yet.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe knife entered on the left-hand side and exited on the right-hand side of the neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim removed the knife herself and handed it to her husband. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defendant fled the scene and was arrested the following day. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenQuigley was seen following the victim and her husband from the Powerscourt Centre on to Chatham Row at about 9.45pm on 16 November. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeQuigley was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had ceased to comply with his medication regime at the time of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe knife was a kitchen knife that belonged to Quigley's father. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeQuigley pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough on 16 November 2023 at Chatham Row, Dublin 2. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim is originally from Northern Ireland and had moved to Australia with her husband when she was 20. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim returned to Ireland six months before the incident, settling in Westport, and came to Dublin to see the Christmas lights. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherQuigley has no previous convictions but had come to Garda attention on a number of occasions for mental health issues. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Dec2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Grandmother stabbed with seven-inch knife after Dublin Christmas lights event, court hears

    Sentencing hearing details: victim impact statement read to court, Garda evidence on the attack, defendant's mental health history (schizophrenia, ceased medication), and remand in custody pending sentence.

    victim, Gretta McCullough, 64, female, non-irish (judged from name)Gretta McCulloughconvicted, Darragh Quigley, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quigley