Ireland

Youth due in court in connection with attack on Irish army chaplain

Fr Paul Murphy was stabbed outside a barracks in Galway late on Thursday

Army chaplain, Fr Paul Murphy, is recovering after being stabbed on Thursday.
Army chaplain, Fr Paul Murphy, is recovering after being stabbed on Thursday.
By John Breslin

A male youth is due to appear before a court today charged in connection with the stabbing of a Defence Forces chaplain at an army barracks in Galway.

He is expected to appear before Galway District Court this afternoon.

Fr Paul Murphy, aged in his 50s, was stabbed outside Renmore Barracks late on Thursday. His injuries are serious but not life-threatening and he remains in University Hospital Galway.

A car wrapped in plastic at the scene at Renmore Barracks
A car wrapped in plastic at the scene at Renmore Barracks (Brian Lawless/PA)

A spokesman for the Defence Forces said live ammunition was fired by on-duty personnel as warning shots following the attack. The injured priest received first aid from the personnel at the scene.

A individual was restrained by members of the Defence Forces and arrested by gardaí.

A car wrapped in plastic at the scene at Renmore Barracks in County Galway after army chaplain Father Paul Murphy was stabbed
Gardaí issues warning over publication of any information that might lead to the identification of a minor (Niall Carson/PA)

The Garda added today that “any member of the public reporting or commenting on this incident of the provisions of section 93 Children Act 2001, which imposes restrictions on the publication of any particulars, including any picture, which is likely to lead to the identification of any child concerned in any criminal proceedings”.