Man Sentenced Following Knife Assault on Police, Subsequent Shooting

An individual who received a gunshot wound from police after brandishing two knives has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by Londonderry Crown Court. Noel Quigley, aged 42, residing at Celandine Court in Derry, pleaded guilty to attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, along with an additional count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stemming from an incident in April 2021. Following his incarceration, he is scheduled to serve an additional 18 months under licence. Testimony presented in court indicated that Quigley had attacked an officer’s head with a knife, stabbing and slashing, subsequent to making a 999 call in which he threatened self-harm. The judge was informed that upon the arrival of officers at the Gobnascale property, Quigley was observed seated, holding a knife in each hand, and issuing threats to cut his own throat. Law enforcement personnel attempted to persuade him to relinquish the knives, but he declined, leading to the deployment of “irritant spray” against him, which proved ineffective. Quigley reportedly then rose to his feet, proceeding to engage in “stabbing and slashing at an officer about the head”. Evidence presented to the court detailed a slit in the officer’s cap, attributed to a knife, and confirmed the officer required medical attention for a head injury. The assault concluded only after an officer discharged his firearm, striking Quigley. He was subsequently transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Judge Neil Rafferty noted that Quigley had experienced a challenging and violent upbringing, in addition to possessing a record of offenses against police, including 15 prior convictions for assaulting officers. The judge stated that body-worn camera footage in this instance had proven advantageous to both the defense and the prosecution, while also illustrating the defendant’s condition. Judge Rafferty characterized the incident as “a serious assault” on a police officer involving a knife, adding that “thankfully the injuries were superficial”. He further declared that individuals who assault police officers should anticipate a custodial sentence. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.