Man who killed 82-year-old in random attack sentenced

A killer who stabbed a granddad to death on his front garden in a random attack while under a delusion he was a paedophile has been given a hospital order.

Gerard Ring, 82, died in hospital three days after he was stabbed by Julian Donoher outside his home in Whitecross Gardens, off Kedleston Road in Derby, on 6 September 2025.

Ring's youngest daughter, Sapphire Greatorex, said her dad was "giant of a man" who was "very reliable, very moral, who worked very hard but was generous with his time, generous with helping other people".

At Derby Crown Court on Tuesday, Donoher, 51, was detained under the Mental Health Act after pleading guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Ring, originally from Dublin, was a retired builder and a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who had lived with incurable blood cancer for almost a decade.

Greatorex said: "I was a daddy's girl I think, always in my dad's life and as he got more unwell I just took care of him, we spent most of our time together - he used to call me his right hand.

"I made sure that he was fit enough, everything in the background was arranged enough so he could feel independent and go off and do his own thing and live his little life, and his biggest joy was his garden."

Ring had been in his front garden when he was stabbed by Donoher, who lived on the same street.

Derby Crown Court judge Shaun Smith KC heard from prosecutor Mark Haywood KC that Ring was a "keen gardener who would often be standing outside enjoying his front garden and the wildlife it attracted, sometimes nodding off in his chair".

Video was shown to the court of the day of the attack, with Donoher in and out of his property, walking his dog bare-chested, and of the fatal stabbing.

CCTV gathered showed there was no warning that Donoher was about to attack.

Donoher could be seen to leave, putting the knife used back into his pocket, while the court was told Ring locked himself inside his house and called 999, to say he had "been stabbed by a man he did not know".

Ring was found by emergency services inside the property having suffered five wounds to his neck and side, and taken to hospital.

The court heard after the attack, Donoher - who was sitting silently watching the proceedings via a video-link - had told neighbours he had "killed the paedophile".

Prosecutor Heywood said: "Unambiguously, there is no truth in any such suggestion. These were delusional comments."

Donoher was also under a delusional belief that police had told him to "take out wrong 'uns", and that he had already killed 66 people, Heywood added.

While under arrest, Donoher was "erratic", the court heard.

Donoher had a history of offending, mostly of "dishonesty and minor violence", the court heard, as well as drug use.

He had taken cocaine, amphetamines and Mamba prior to the attack, which been a contributory factor in his delusions, which were primarily caused by his schizoaffective disorder, mental health reports into Donoher found.

The court heard he had not taken his medication for his mental health for nine months before the attack.

No mitigation was provided in Donoher's defence.

In a victim impact statement, the victim's eldest daughter Tracey Ring told Donoher - while she held a framed picture of her father - what he did to her dad was a "vile, savage, inhumane attack".

Sentencing Donoher to an indefinite hospital order, the judge said Donoher had "brutally and repeatedly stabbed" Ring "not once caring what you had done".

He said: "I want to make it clear, there is no price on a human life, and I am not putting one on Mr Ring.

"Nothing I can do will bring him back. But I must do the best by all sides.

"The most suitable means of dealing with you is a hospital order. There should be a restriction in order to protect the public from the serious harm you pose."

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.