Armed gardaà disarmed and arrested a young man (25) at the sceneBrian Gallagher was stabbed outside the house and the couple tried to flee to a neighbour’s houseStella Gallagher, who later died in hospital, was stabbed as she tried to reach safety‘I live in that neighbourhood. This is totally unexpected’ – Taoiseach Micheál Martin
The deceased woman was named locally as Stella Gallagher (59).
Her husband, Brian (62), remains in a serious but stable condition in Cork University Hospital (CUH).
Gardaà continued to question a 25 year old man – who was known to the couple – after he was arrested at the scene last night.
Armed gardaà arrested the young man, who was said to be in a very distraught state, just metres from the scene.
Ms Gallagher died after suffering multiple stab injuries outside her home in Shrewsbury Downs, off the Ballinlough Road in Cork city.
The incident occurred shortly after 9pm last night when the couple were confronted outside their home by the man.
It is understood Mr Gallagher was stabbed outside the house and the couple then desperately tried to flee to a neighbour’s house to raise the alarm.
Ms Gallagher is then believed to have been stabbed as she tried to reach safety.
Gardaà at the scene in the Shrewsbury Downs estate off the Ballinlough Road, Cork City (Pic: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision)
The aftermath of the attack was witnessed by one neighbour who was alerted by shouting and calls for assistance.
Gardaà and emergency services raced to the property after neighbours raised the alarm.
Armed gardaà disarmed and arrested the man on a green area located just 20m from the couple’s home.
A blood-stained kitchen knife was recovered from the scene.
He can be held for up to 24 hours before he must either be charged with an offence or released.
The couple, who were in a critical condition, were rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH).
Tragically, Ms Gallagher lost her battle for life in the early hours of this morning.
Her husband remains in a serious but stable condition at CUH having undergone emergency surgery.
The couple are said locally to have a number of adult children.
Shrewsbury Downs is an affluent, mature housing estate just 2km from Cork city centre.
The houses are two storey brick faced properties, many with Grecian columned porticos.
The family had lived in the estate since the 2000s.
Today’s News in 90 – Tuesday November 18
Taoiseach Micheál Martin – who lives in the Ballinlough area on Cork’s southside – expressed his shock at the tragedy.
“(It is) very, very sad news for the neighbourhood,” said.
“I live in that neighbourhood. This is totally unexpected and I can only think of the family and friends of the family who have been impacted by this awful incident.”
Locals said the couple worked in the engineering sector and were lovely neighbours, taking great care to maintain their house in exceptional condition.
The arrested man is now assisting gardaà with their inquiries into the precise circumstances of what happened.
He is understood to have suffered minor, non-life threatening injuries in the incident.
These are described as cut marks to his hands.
The young man was described as being in a very distraught condition when arrested.
A precautionary medical assessment was conducted to assess his mental state.
Three sections of Shrewsbury Downs were sealed off to facilitate a forensic examination by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
Two properties – including the home of the couple – were sealed off as well as the green area nearby.
Gardaà also commenced door-to-door inquiries to determine the precise circumstances of the incident.
A number of properties in the area are understood to be fitted with CCTV security camera systems and footage will be examined to determine if it captured any of the tragic incidents outside the property involved.
“A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Anglesea Street Garda Station,” a garda spokesperson said.
“A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been assigned to support the family of the deceased.
“Gardaà are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward.
“Anyone who was in the Shrewsbury Downs area of Ballinlough between 8:30pm and 9:30pm on Monday and who may have camera footage, including home security and dash-cam footage, is asked to provide this footage to investigating gardaÃ.”
Locals expressed shock at the tragedy in the leafy Ballinlough suburb.
“This is a very safe neighbourhood – nothing like this has ever happened here. Hopefully this is just an isolated case. But it is very frightening to think that something like this could happen here,” one local said.
Councillor Peter Horgan said the tragedy had stunned the local community.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their extended family and indeed the entire neighbourhood.”
A resident praised the swift garda response after neighbours had rang around to ensure everyone stayed indoors to allow gardaà deal with the incident.
“I have to pay credit to the gardaà – they were here within minutes of the alarm being raised. It was a very fast response and they handled the whole thing very professionally.
“Everyone here is in total shock – it’s beyond belief that something like this could happen in such a quiet estate and so close to Christmas.
“We are all heartbroken for the family and what they must be going through.”
It is the second stabbing incident in Cork in the space of 36 hours.
A young father, Mark O’Connell (38), died after a separate and unrelated incident on Hollyhill on Cork’s northside in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
Mr O’Connell was found in critical condition in the Hollyville area and was rushed to CUH but, despite desperate efforts to stabilise his condition, he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital.
A man in his 50s was arrested and questioned for almost 24 hours by Gardaà before being released without charge.
A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to Mr O’Connell’s death.
This article was amended at 8.05am on November 18, 2025, to clarify the ages of those mentioned.