Gardaí have said that they are investigating whether an attack on an army chaplain last night at Renmore Army Barracks in Co. Galway had a “terrorism motivation”.
In a statement, gardaí said that the Special Detective Unit is involved in the investigation, adding that “at this time it is not believed this incident is part of a wider conspiracy”.
A teenage boy was subdued and arrested after the padre, Father Paul Murphy, aged in his 50s, was stabbed during the incident which took place at approximately 10.45pm.
Fr Murphy’s injuries are understood to be serious but not life-threatening.
He is currently awaiting surgery at University Hospital Galway, according to a statement released on his Facebook page.
In a Facebook post this morning, the chaplain thanked people for their messages and concern.
“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,” Fr Murphy wrote.
“All will be well,” he added.
A teenage boy was restrained at the scene by members of the Defence Forces and was subsequently arrested by gardaí. He is currently being held at a garda station in the North Western Region.
In a statement, the Defence Forces confirmed shots were fired by on-duty personnel, “in strict accordance with force protection protocols after a Defence Forces member was assaulted by a male civilian”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris issued a statement on X, saying that he had been briefed on the “shocking incident” outside Renmore Barracks last night, adding that his “thoughts are with the member of the defence forces in hospital”.
“I want to thank defence forces personnel & Gardai for their action and response,” the taoiseach wrote.
I have been briefed on the shocking incident outside Renmore Barracks last night & my thoughts are with the member of the defence forces in hospital. I want to thank defence forces personnel & Gardai for their action and response.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 16, 2024
Tánaiste Micheál Martin meanwhile said that he condemned the “violent attack,” and that he commended the members of the Defence Forces on duty at the time, “whose intervention was critical”.
Bishop of Galway Michael Duignan described the news of an assault on a Catholic priest as “deeply shocking and upsetting”.
“I pray for the injured man, asking God that he would make a full recovery. I pray too for his family, for his army colleagues and for the medical personnel who are tending to his injuries at this time,” Bishop Duignan said.
The scene at Renmore Barracks is currently preserved and a technical examination will be carried out today by the Garda Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.
Gardaí say that their investigations are ongoing.