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'Hunter' who plunged knife through grandmother's neck in random city centre attack gets 12 years

2026-01-19 · Carndonagh, Donegal · Central Criminal Court

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A man who travelled to Dublin City Centre armed with a knife and determined to attack a stranger has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court. Darragh Quigley, aged 26, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a 64-year-old woman on 16 November 2023 at Chatham Row, Dublin 2. The victim, who had relocated to Westport, Mayo, was visiting the city to view Christmas lights when she was struck from behind without warning. A seven-inch knife penetrated through her neck, entering on one side and exiting the other. Mr Justice Paul Burns described the assault as totally unprovoked and noted that the defendant had followed the couple for several minutes before attacking. Though the blade passed through the victim's neck, it miraculously avoided vital structures. The judge found Quigley had armed himself deliberately and possessed a clear intention to kill. Quigley, who has schizophrenia and had ceased taking prescribed medication, was diagnosed as actively psychotic at the time.

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