Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3677Attempted murder · Co. Galway · 15 Aug 2024

Army chaplain Father Paul Murphy stabbed by 16-year-old boy at Renmore Barracks, Galway

Army Chaplain Father Paul Murphy was stabbed with a large hunting knife by a 16-year-old Irish boy at Renmore Barracks, Galway city, on 15 August 2024. The boy, radicalised by extremist Islamic content, was charged with attempted murder and jailed for eight years in May 2025; the incident was recorded as the first Jihadi terrorist attack in the State.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe attacker was a 16-year-old Irish boy who had been radicalised by extremist Islamic content. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCorporal Daniel Padden fired two warning shots and Private Dylan Geraghty fired three from their Steyr rifles before Geraghty crept up behind the attacker and pulled him off the priest. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFather Paul Murphy was rushed to hospital after the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack took place at Renmore Barracks in the centre of Galway city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe stabbing occurred at approximately 10.45pm on the evening of 15 August 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe boy was charged with attempted murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe boy was jailed for eight years in May 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn Islamic State flag and a notebook with writing and graphic sketches depicting beheadings were found in the boy's room. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSecurity officials recorded the incident as the first Jihadi terrorist attack in the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe boy had converted to Islam a year before the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFather Paul Murphy embraced the boy and told him he forgave him before the boy was led away. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMurphy, Shanahan, Geraghty and Padden were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in February 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe attacker's backpack was checked and found to be empty. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Mar2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    How quick thinking saved lives after Army chaplain stabbed by teenage boy in Galway

    First public account of the events by those involved; confirms the boy's eight-year sentence, the Distinguished Service Medal award to Murphy and three soldiers in February 2026, and details of the attacker's radicalisation and the weapons found in his room.

    victim, Father Paul Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Father Paul Murphyconvicted, 16, male, Irish, irish