Glasgow Father and Daughter Face Lengthy Sentences After Brutal 15-Hour Hostage Ordeal
A Glasgow father and daughter have admitted to subjecting a man to a horrific 15-hour torture ordeal over an alleged debt, in a case that has shocked the city. John McGinley, aged 58, and his daughter Stacey McGinley, 39, held Duncan Craig hostage in their east end flat, inflicting severe injuries including pushing him from a first-floor window, stripping him, beating him, choking him, and stabbing him.
The Terrifying Assault Unfolds
The incident began on February 15, 2025, when Mr. Craig visited the McGinleys' flat along with another woman. Stacey McGinley, described as being "unhappy" with her on/off partner over an apparent debt of more than £600, initiated the violence around 3am by repeatedly punching him. When Mr. Craig attempted to escape by climbing onto a windowsill, John McGinley shoved him with both hands, causing him to fall into a neighbour's garden.
Prosecutor Alasdair Shaw detailed the aftermath: "Mr Craig was groaning in pain – at least one of his legs appeared to be misshapen. He also appeared to be bleeding from his head." Despite the other woman's plea to call an ambulance, Stacey refused and demanded Mr. Craig be dragged back inside the flat, where he was locked in a bedroom.
Hours of Sustained Brutality
Over the next several hours, Mr. Craig endured what the court described as "numerous assaults" of escalating cruelty. Stacey removed his clothing, bit him repeatedly, stamped on his head, and pushed an object into his ear. John McGinley entered the room multiple times with knives, using them to strike Mr. Craig on the head and body. Both attackers threw him around the room and forced him to crawl on the floor.
Mr. Shaw recounted one particularly chilling moment: "Stacey McGinley placed him in a headlock, compressed his neck and asked the other woman if his face had turned purple. It had not, but the witness said it had in order to appease her." Stacey also threatened to kill Mr. Craig if he tried to leave, cut sections of his hair, and sprayed gold-coloured hairspray into his wounds, causing him to scream in pain.
Secret Plea for Help Leads to Rescue
The ordeal only ended when the other woman managed to secretly retrieve her phone and text a friend for help, writing: "Phone an ambulance and police. Do not tell them I am doing this. She is going to kill him." Armed police officers arrived at the Carntyne flat at 5.26pm, finding Mr. Craig wrapped in a duvet with his face covered in blood, complaining of a broken leg and unable to move.
He was rushed to hospital with injuries including a hip fracture, dislocated shoulder, missing teeth, and numerous stamp, bite, and strangulation marks. Mr. Craig remained hospitalized until March 3 and required further rehabilitation for his leg injury.
Guilty Pleas and Pending Sentencing
At the High Court in Glasgow, John McGinley pleaded guilty to attempted murder, while Stacey McGinley admitted to assaulting Mr. Craig to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, and impairment, as well as to the danger of his life. Both also pleaded guilty to abduction and attempting to extort cash. The pair, who have more than 20 previous convictions between them, have been remanded in custody, with sentencing postponed until May.
Lord Mulholland will determine their fate, with lengthy prison sentences expected for this brutal and prolonged act of violence over a financial dispute.
