Woman faces jail over killing neighbour in savage hammer attack

Published: 20:39, 18 May 2026 | Updated: 20:39, 18 May 2026 A killer brutally murdered her neighbour in a horrific hammer and knife attack days before Christmas. Claire Kilduff bludgeoned and stabbed Ann Coll to death having also taken more than £300 from the grandmother’s bank account. The 40-year-old later went on to lie in a 999 call that she had found the 61-year-old, who shared her home with her dog Lola, in a pool of blood having gone to visit her in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, in December 2023. Kilduff now faces a life sentence after pleading guilty to murder at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday. Prosecutor Gavin Dewar said the women had been friends and neighbours and often walked their dogs together near their homes in the town’s Newfield Place. The two had agreed to watch television at the victim’s place on the evening of December 21 but instead Kilduff turned on the mother-of-three. Mr Dewar said the killer had been ‘financially embarrassed’ owing cash to un-named others but knew how to access Ms Coll’s banking app and arranged to transfer £320 to herself. The murder took place sometime between 7.30pm and just before 1am the following day. Clare Kilduff pled guilty to the murder of Ann Coll The 61-year-old victim was found with serious injuries in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire He said: ‘Kilduff repeatedly struck Ann Coll with a hammer causing extensive blunt force trauma injuries to the head and neck. ‘The blows caused extensive fractures to Ann Coll’s skull. Kilduff repeatedly stabbed her with a knife.’ Kilduff called 999 and sounding breathless and crying told the call handler: ‘I have came up and found my neighbour in a pool of blood and she is not breathing.’ Mercy crews arrived to find Ms Coll in her bedroom but were unable to save her. Mr Dewar’s said she had suffered at least 21 blows to the head resulting in multiple fractures. She also had seven stab wounds to the neck, back and side of the chest. Mother-of-one Kilduff had been sitting in the common close when police turned up after the murder - but it took until February 2024 for her to be arrested. Detectives had earlier launched an appeal for help in trying to solve the killing. But during the probe they also examined Kilduff’s phone which contained a number of Google searches on the night of the attack including ‘deadliest stab wounds’, ‘stab wound to the neck’, ‘hammer to head injury’ and ‘killed by single blow to head’. Officers were then told of an underfloor cavity area in Kilduff’s flat and found incriminating items almost a year after the murder. The hammer and knife discovered had the killer’s DNA on them as well as traces of Ms Coll’s blood. Kilduff had been due to stand trial this week before admitting her guilt. She had previously lodged a special defence via her lawyers blaming another woman - a prosecution witness - for the killing. Mr Dewar told the court Ms Coll was ‘a much-loved parent, grand-parent and friend’ who is ‘greatly missed’ particularly by her children. A large number her loved ones were at court yesterday. Many were emotional during the hearing. Gary Allan KC, defending, said Kilduff ‘cannot explain’ what she had done, but had ‘expressed sorrow’ for the killing. Lord Arthurson adjourned the case for sentencing. Kilduff remains in custody meantime. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.