Courts / Dublin / Report

Grandmother randomly stabbed in head in Dublin city centre while watching Christmas lights switch-on

Date
2025-12-16

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

Darragh Quigley, 26, of Carndonagh Road, Donaghmede, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough, 64, on November 16, 2023, at Chatham Row, Dublin 2. At the sentence hearing in the Central Criminal Court, the court heard that Quigley followed Ms McCullough and her husband from the Powerscourt Centre before striking her from behind with a seven-inch knife. The blade passed through the back of her head, entering on the left and exiting on the right. Ms McCullough, who was watching the Christmas lights switch-on, removed the knife herself and handed it to her husband. She described the attack as random and unprovoked, stating it permanently altered her sense of safety. Quigley, who has no previous convictions but a history of mental health issues, told gardai the act was random and he had gone into town with a knife. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC submitted that Quigley had ceased taking his antipsychotic medication and suffered from bipolar affective disorder. Mr Justice Paul Burns described the incident as a truly shocking and extremely serious offence. He remanded Quigley in custody today until January 19, when he will be sentenced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Grandmother randomly stabbed in head in Dublin city centre while watching Christmas lights switch-on. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough (64) on November 16, 2023 at Chatham Row, Dublin 2. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 16, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
November 16 Incident
March 2024 Incident
January 19 Adjournment
Christmas Incident
2025-12-16 Publication

Case subjects

Darragh Quigley

Defendant

Charges: the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough (64) on November 16, 2023 at Chatham Row, Dublin 2 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At today's sentence hearing, Garda Aine Hogan detailed the background of the event, telling John Griffin BL, prosecuting, that Quigley was seen following Ms McCullough and her husband from the Powerscourt Centre onto Chatham Row around 9.45pm on November 16. He remanded Quigley in custody today until January 19, when he will be sentenced.; He remanded Quigley in custody today until January 19, when he will be sentenced.