Unsolved case
Killing of Mary Gallagher
Mary Gallagher, a 19th-century Irish-Canadian woman, was killed by decapitation in the Griffintown neighbourhood of Montreal on 27 June 1879.
Mary Gallagher was an Irish-Canadian woman living in the 19th century in Griffintown, a then Irish-dominant neighbourhood of Montreal, Quebec. On 27 June 1879, Gallagher was killed via decapitation in Griffintown.
In the years since her death, Mary Gallagher has become a significant figure in Montreal folklore. Persistent local legend holds that her spirit haunts the Griffintown area, and this ghost story has continued into the present day, generating ongoing public and media interest in her case long after the events of 1879.
No individuals have been named as charged, convicted, acquitted, or exonerated in connection with Mary Gallagher's death based on the material reviewed.
Key facts
- Victims
- Mary Gallagher
- Date
- 1879
- Location
- Griffintown, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Case status
- unsolved
Case timeline
1879-06-27
Mary Gallagher is killed via decapitation in Griffintown, Montreal, Quebec.
Best coverage
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People
Mary Gallagher
VICTIM19th-century Irish-Canadian woman killed by decapitation in Griffintown, Montreal, on 27 June 1879.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
crime scene press
File:Montreal - Scene of the Gallagher Murder, William Street.jpg
Credit: Canadian illustrated news, 12 juillet 1879 · Public domain · Source
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- Mary Gallagher, a 19th-century Irish-Canadian woman, was killed by decapitation in the Griffintown neighbourhood of Montreal on 27 June 1879.
- Where did the killing happen?
- Griffintown, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: unsolved.
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Sources
- ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Mary GallagherWikipedia · 2026-07-10
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — concordia.caconcordia.ca · 2026-07-10
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