Teenager sentenced for attempted murder of Army chaplain

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A 17-year-old boy was sentenced to 10 years’ detention, with the final two years suspended for three years, for the attempted murder of Defence Forces chaplain Fr Paul Murphy. The sentencing proceedings were reported on 29 April 2025.

The boy pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He cannot be identified because of his age.

At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott also ordered three years’ supervision after his release and that he undertake programmes, including a deradicalisation programme, as directed by the Probation Service.

The attack took place at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore Barracks in Galway, on 15 August 2024, when the boy was 16. He repeatedly stabbed Fr Murphy as the chaplain waited in his car outside the gate. Soldiers restrained the boy.

The judge said the boy’s vulnerability to radicalisation was exacerbated by his autism spectrum disorder, social isolation and prolonged engagement with certain websites. He cited the early guilty plea, genuine remorse and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors.

At an earlier sentence hearing, Fr Murphy told the boy he forgave him. The boy apologised to the chaplain.