Man shot after knife attack on police jailed

A man who was shot by police while he was brandishing two knives has been jailed for 18 months at Londonderry Crown Court.

Noel Quigley, 42, of Celandine Court, Derry, admitted attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and a further charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in April 2021.

He will spend a further 18 months on licence.

The court was told Quigley had stabbed and slashed at an officer’s head after phoning 999 threatening to self-harm.

The judge heard that when officers arrived at the property in Gobnascale, Quigley was sitting in a chair holding a knife in each hand and threatening to cut his throat.

Police tried to talk him into placing the knives down but he refused and then "irritant spray" was used on him but to no avail.

Quigley was then said to have stood up “stabbing and slashing at an officer about the head”.

The court was told that there was a slit in the officer’s cap caused by a knife and the officer needed treatment for a head wound. The attack only ended when an officer shot Quigley with his gun.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Judge Neil Rafferty said Quigley had had a difficult, violent childhood but also a history of offences against police with 15 previous convictions for assault on them.

He said body-worn in the case had benefitted both the defence and prosecution and also showed the state of the defendant.

Judge Rafferty said it was “a serious assault” on a police officer with a knife but “thankfully the injuries were superficial”.

He said anyone who assaulted police must expect a custodial sentence.