A young individual has been detained following the stabbing of a chaplain at a Galway army base. The barracks, located in Renmore, witnessed a tense incident involving an armed assailant and military sentries who fired five cautionary shots and used a baton to combat the attacker around 10.45pm on Thursday evening.
Fr Paul F Murphy, who is in his 50s, sustained severe but non-fatal injuries in the assault initiated by the knife-wielding teenager outside the barracks’ entrance. The chaplain was pursued into the barracks by his attacker, however managed to escape further harm due to the intervention of military personnel.
It is reported that Fr. Murphy, currently receiving medical attention at University Hospital Galway, would have suffered more grave injuries had it not been for the sentries timely intervention. The chaplain has shared an update on his health, stating that while he was awaiting surgery, he was grateful for the prayers and concerns shared in his name.
The primary investigation into the incident is being carried out by An Garda Síochána, who are endeavouring to establish the motive behind the assault. The detained teenager is presently at a Garda station in the North Western Region with the crime scene cordoned off pending a technical examination scheduled to take place on Friday, according to a Garda spokesperson.