Father and Daughter Sentenced for Torturing Man in Glasgow Flat
John McGinley, 58, and Stacey McGinley, 39, were sentenced at the High Court of Glasgow after admitting to torturing and holding a man hostage.
The pair admitted to pushing Duncan Craig from a first-floor window in Glasgow's east end before subjecting him to a brutal assault involving stripping, beating, choking, and stabbing.
The court heard that the attack was motivated by an alleged £600 debt owed to Stacey McGinley, who was Craig's on-off partner.
Lord Mulholland addressed the defendants during sentencing, stating:
"You should be truly ashamed. You both could have today been facing a murder charge. How someone can do this to another human being is beyond me."
John McGinley was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison, while Stacey McGinley received six-and-a-half years.
Details of the Assault
On 15 February 2025, Duncan Craig was at the flat shared by John and Stacey McGinley, accompanied by another woman. According to court testimony, Stacey was displeased with Craig due to the outstanding debt.
At approximately 03:00, Stacey began repeatedly punching Craig. In an attempt to escape, Craig climbed onto the window sill of the first-floor flat but was pushed by John McGinley, causing him to fall into a neighbor's garden.
Prosecutor Alasdair Shaw described Craig's condition after the fall, noting he was "groaning in pain" and bleeding from the head.
Craig was then subjected to numerous assaults over several hours. The other woman present reported hearing Craig scream and choke as he pleaded for help.
Stacey McGinley reportedly bit Craig multiple times and stamped on his head before ordering him to call his mother to transfer money to settle the debt.
John McGinley inflicted additional injuries by cutting Craig on his head and body with knives. Craig was described as "covered in blood, eyes swollen, his body extensively bruised," and forced to crawl along the floor.
Stacey sprayed hairspray into Craig's head wounds, while John placed a bag over his head to prevent blood from dripping.
Rescue and Medical Treatment
The other woman at the flat secretly texted a friend, requesting that an ambulance and police be called.
Firearms officers arrived at the property around 17:26 and found Craig wrapped in a duvet. Craig reported having a broken leg and being unable to move.
Craig was transported to the hospital with multiple injuries including a hip fracture, dislocated shoulder, missing teeth, as well as bite and strangulation marks. He remained hospitalized until 3 March and required further rehabilitation for his leg injury.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
John McGinley pled guilty to attempted murder. Stacey McGinley admitted to assaulting Craig causing severe injury, permanent disfigurement, impairment, and endangering his life. Both were also charged with abducting Craig and attempting to extort money from him.
Defence counsel Paul Nelson KC, representing John McGinley, stated:
"During the evening, he was in another room, heard noise then he came back to see what it was. In the knowledge of the relationship between his daughter and the victim he then acted in the way libelled."
Stacey McGinley's counsel, John Scullion KC, said:
"She has little recollection of the offence. She accepts full responsibility for her actions and has expressed remorse."
Both John and Stacey McGinley have been banned from contacting or approaching Duncan Craig for life.
