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. 3837Assault (stabbing) · Co. Galway

Distinguished Service Medals awarded to Fr Paul Murphy and three soldiers over Galway barracks stabbing

Fr Paul Murphy and three soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion were awarded Distinguished Service Medals at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Barracks, Renmore, Co. Galway, on 12 February 2026, for their actions during a Jihadi knife attack on the priest in August 2024, in which a then-16-year-old boy stabbed him seven times with a hunting knife.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFr Paul Murphy was stabbed seven times with a hunting knife at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Barracks, Renmore, Co. Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe attack was classified as a Jihadi attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe attack lasted 90 seconds. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe attacker was a 16-year-old boy at the time of the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPte Shanahan was on guard duty and attempted to stop the attack while unarmed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCpl Padden and Pte Geraghty fired warning shots in the air. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPte Geraghty tackled the attacker. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCpl Padden maintained a defensive position ready to escalate force. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe knife attack took place in August 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe boy had become radicalised online. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe ceremony was attended by Minister for Defence Helen McEntee and Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Rossa Mulcahy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe boy was sentenced to eight years detention. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFr Paul Murphy forgave the teenager and hugged him after court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFr Paul Murphy later served as Chaplain for the Irish 126th Infantry Battalion in Lebanon for six months. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAll four were awarded Distinguished Service Medals at a ceremony on 12 February 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe four are members of An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe, The 1st Infantry Battalion, based at Renmore. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPte Geraghty was awarded the DSM with Honours, the highest grade of the medal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCpl Padden was awarded the DSM with Distinction. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPte Shanahan and Fr Paul Murphy were each awarded the DSM with Merit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe DSM is second in importance only to the Military Medal For Gallantry. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Feb2026
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Priest stabbed in Galway attack and soldiers who saved him honoured for bravery

    Reports on the Distinguished Service Medal ceremony honouring Fr Paul Murphy and three soldiers for their actions during the August 2024 Jihadi knife attack at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Barracks, Renmore, Co. Galway. Also notes the attacker was sentenced to eight years detention and that Fr Murphy later served as chaplain in Lebanon.

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