Army chaplain Fr Paul Murphy says he 'would be dead' if car window was fully open during stabbing
Fr Paul Murphy, an Irish army chaplain aged 52, was stabbed seven times with a hunting knife by a teenage boy, aged 16 at the time, at Renmore Barracks in Galway on 15 August 2024. The boy, who had been radicalised online and supported ISIS, had targeted any member of the Defence Forces and was arrested at the scene after soldiers restrained him. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in February 2025. On 29 April 2025, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to ten years' detention with the final two years suspended, along with a deradicalisation programme and three years' supervision after release. Fr Murphy, who suffered permanent arm injuries, forgave the boy and hugged him in court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Apr
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced29 Apr
3 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Fr Paul Murphy, an Irish army chaplain aged 52, was stabbed seven times by a teenage boy who had been radicalised online and supported ISIS.
- Where
- The attack took place at Renmore Barracks in Galway.
- When
- The attack occurred on 15 August 2024 at around 10.35pm while Fr Murphy was attempting to drive into the barracks.
- Cause
- The boy, aged 16 at the time, wanted to kill a member of the Irish Defence Forces because of their previous presence in Mali.
- Weapon
- The boy used a serrated eight-inch hunting knife.
- Investigation
- The boy was arrested at the scene after being restrained by members of the Defence Forces, had no previous convictions, and was diagnosed with autism after the offence.
- Charges
- The boy pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in February 2025.
- In court
- Sentencing was delivered by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court on 29 April 2025.
- Sentence
- The boy was sentenced to ten years' detention with the final two years suspended, ordered to complete a deradicalisation programme, and to remain under supervision for three years after release.
- Other details
- Fr Murphy, a native of Waterford who has been an army chaplain since 2013, suffered permanent scars and arm wounds requiring surgery.
- Fr Murphy forgave the boy and hugged him in court during the sentencing hearing.
44 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFr Murphy was stabbed seven times with a hunting knife (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe boy was 16 at the time of the attack and is now 17. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy pleaded guilty to attempted murder in February 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy had no previous convictions and had never come to the attention of gardaí before. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy was diagnosed with autism after the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy lay in wait for any member of the Defence Forces and did not target Fr Murphy for his religious role. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe attack lasted approximately 90 seconds. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA soldier fired warning shots and another soldier's direct intervention ended the attack. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFr Murphy suffered permanent scars and wounds to his arm requiring surgery. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy clung to the vehicle as it moved before being restrained by soldiers who fired warning shots. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHis delayed return from a swim was among factors that helped save his life (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHis rosary beads were beside him in the car during the attack (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe had an image of his guardian angel on his visor (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe stabbing took place at Renmore Barracks in Galway (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe stabbing occurred at Renmore Barracks in Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred at around 10.35pm while Fr Murphy was attempting to drive into the barracks (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on 15 August 2024 at Renmore Barracks, Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack took place in August 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe was stabbed multiple times on 15 August 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe attacker singled out Fr Murphy because the Irish Defence Forces had previously had a presence in Mali (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe teen stabbed Fr Murphy with a serrated eight-inch hunting knife. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe boy was arrested at the scene after being restrained by members of the Defence Forces (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe boy pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe teen pleaded guilty to attempted murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSentencing is to be handed down by Mr Justice Paul McDermott on Tuesday afternoon (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentencing was delivered by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge noted an adult committing the same crime would face 20 to 25 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe teen was sentenced to ten years' detention with the final two years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe teen was ordered to complete a deradicalisation programme and remain under supervision three years after release. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe teenager was sentenced to 10 years' detention with the final two suspended (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFr Paul Murphy said he forgave his attacker before hugging him in his impact statement (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe boy was aged 16 at the time of the incident and is now 17 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFr Murphy is a native of Waterford and lived at the barracks (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFr Murphy has been an army chaplain since 2013 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFr Murphy has completed five overseas placements with the Defence Forces in Syria and Lebanon (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe teen was radicalised online and influenced by extremist propaganda. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe boy had supported the so-called Islamic State and possessed videos of beheadings and other violent content. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe boy had converted to Islam at 15 and attended a mosque. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFr Murphy forgave the boy and hugged him after the sentencing hearing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFr Murphy said he has scars on his arms from the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe attacker supported ISIS (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe attacker had been radicalised online (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFr Murphy forgave his attacker and embraced him in court at an earlier hearing (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 May2025Army chaplain stabbed by teen 'would be dead' if car window was fully open
Fr Murphy discusses the attack in an RTE interview, saying he 'would be dead' if his car window had been fully open, that he forgave his attacker and embraced him in court, and that the boy 'had come to kill a soldier.' Confirms the teenager was sentenced to 10 years' detention with the final two suspended.
victim, Paul Murphy, 52, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphysuspect, 16, male - 4 May2025Fr Murphy recalls teen stabbed him with determination to end his life
Fr Murphy's RTÉ Radio 1 interview reflecting on the attack and his forgiveness of the teen; sentencing details, judge's comments on online radicalisation, and deradicalisation order.
victim, Fr Paul Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Fr Paul Murphyconvicted, 17, male - 29 Apr2025Boy sentenced to eight years for attempted murder of Defence Forces chaplain
Provides full sentencing details: headline sentence of 20 years reduced to 10 years (two suspended) by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, the judge's reasoning on online radicalisation, the 90-second attack, and Fr Murphy's post-sentencing remarks.
victim, Fr Paul Murphy, 52, male, irish (judged from name)Fr Paul Murphysuspect, 17, male - 29 Apr2025Teen who stabbed Defence Forces chaplain to be sentenced for attempted murder
Confirms the charge was attempted murder (not merely assault causing harm), that Fr Murphy was stabbed seven times with a hunting knife, that Fr Murphy gave a forgiveness impact statement in April, and that sentencing is set for 29 April 2025 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court.
victim, Fr Paul Murphy, male, Irish, irishFr Paul Murphysuspect, 17, male