Courts / Dublin / Report

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

Date
2026-01-19

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

Darragh Quigley (26) was sentenced at the sentence hearing for the attempted murder of Gretta McCullough (64) on November 16, 2023, at Chatham Row, Dublin 2. Quigley pleaded guilty to the charge, having admitted to the offence. The court found him not guilty by reason of insanity, as expert psychiatric evidence concluded he did not meet the legal criteria for that verdict despite suffering from schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis. Mr Justice Paul Burns described the attack as totally unprovoked and random, noting Quigley had travelled to the city centre with a plan to hunt someone. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years and six months. In mitigation, the court considered Quigley's guilty plea, his expression of remorse, and his lack of previous convictions. Quigley was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with the final year suspended for a period of five years. The sentence was backdated to November 17, 2023. The judge recommended a psychiatric assessment two months prior to release to determine if secure medical treatment is required. The matter was concluded with this sentencing order.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Hunter' who plunged knife through grandmother's neck in random city centre attack gets 12 years. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of Ms McCullough (64) on November 16, 2023 at Chatham Row, Dublin 2. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

November 16, 2023 Incident
November 17, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
November 16 Incident
March 2024 Incident
Christmas Incident
2026-01-19 Publication

Case subjects

Darragh Quigley

Defendant

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

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity

Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity; The judge sentenced Quigley to 13 years in prison with the final year suspended for a period of five years.