Army chaplain stabbed at Galway barracks speaks out following attack

A teenage boy was detained at the scene.

Father Paul Murphy is being treated at University Hospital Galway and insists "all will be well".

In a statement posted to his Facebook Page, the chaplain from County Waterford wrote: "Friends, thank you for your prayers, love, and concern.

"Sorry that I can't reply to all messages and take all the calls coming my way. I'm doing okay; just awaiting surgery. All will be well."

According to a statement from An Garda Síochána, Father Murphy was attacked by a teenager carrying a knife at the entrance to the barracks.

“Gardaí, including members of the Garda Armed Support Unit, responded to the incident at approximately 10.45pm," the statement said.

“A man (50s) received a number of stab wounds during the incident. He was taken to University Hospital Galway for treatment of injuries that are serious but not life-threatening.

“A male youth (teens) was restrained by members of the Defence Forces and arrested by Gardaí at the scene. The male youth is currently detained at a Garda Station in the North Western Region.

“The scene is currently preserved and a technical examination will be carried out today by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.”

The teenage boy was restrained by members of the Defence Forces at the scene, before being arrested by gardaí, and is being held at a garda station in the North Western Region.

Terror motive investigated in Galway barracks attackhttps://t.co/m9T7oawoSp

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 16, 2024

RTÉ News have reported that five shots were fired by the Defence Forces, within their self-defence rules.

The state broadcaster has also reported that one line of enquiry being looked into by investigators is whether or not the attack had a “terrorism motivation”.

Ireland’s defence minister Michael Martin said in a statement: “I condemn the violent attack at Renmore Barracks last night.

“I commend the members of the Defence Forces on duty at the time, whose intervention was critical. Our thoughts are with the Defence Forces member injured in the attack.”