The Irish Army chaplain, Fr Paul Murphy, was stabbed seven times with a hunting knife at the main gate while trying to drive into Renmore Barracks in Galway at around 10.35pm on August 15, 2024.
He was approached by an attacker, who was a teenager aged 16 at the time, under the guise of needing assistance, who attacked him with a knife as he lowered his car’s window.
Meanwhile, Private Ciara Shanahan, who was on gate duty, immediately alerted the Barrack Guard and went to deter the attacker despite being unarmed.
The Guard Commander, Corporal Daniel Padden, accompanied by another member of the Barrack Guard, Private Dylan Geraghty, responded quickly by issuing verbal warnings followed by warning shots.
Private Geraghty then tackled the assailant and removed the threat from Fr Murphy while Cpl Padden maintained a defensive position ready to escalate force if necessary.
In the meantime, other personnel arrived and provided medical aid to Fr Murphy, immobilised the attacker, notified the gardaí and secured the scene.
The teenager, who was radicalised by Islamist extremist content online, was arrested at the scene after being restrained by soldiers.
The boy, who could not be identified because of his age, pleaded guilty to attempted murder last year at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin and was sentenced to eight years.
Last year, the court heard that the boy had planned to kill a member of the Defence Forces as a form of protest.
Giving his impact statement in April last year, Fr Murphy said he forgave his attacker before hugging him.
Fr Paul Murphy. Photo: PA
Fr Murphy and three members of the Defence Forces who went to help him will now receive service medals, awarded by the Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, next month at a ceremony in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Barracks in Renmore in Galway.
For their “swift and courageous action” which “ensured no loss of life occurred and demonstrated exceptional bravery and professionalism under extreme pressure”, all three members of Óglaigh na hÉireann will be awarded service medals.
Corporal Daniel Padden will receive the Distinguished Service Medal with Distinction, Private Dylan Geraghty will be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with Honour, and Private Ciara Shanahan will receive the Distinguished Service Medal with Merit.
Meanwhile, Fr Paul Murphy will be awarded the Distinguished Service Medical with Merit for his “distinguished service arising from a violent attack on himself and for personifying the Defence Forces Core Values in the aftermath”.
The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, said: “The awarding of Distinguished Service Medals to these four members of Óglaigh na hÉireann is a fitting and well-deserved recognition of their courage, professionalism and moral resolve in the face of a violent attack on Fr Paul Murphy.”
“Their actions exemplify the very highest standards of Óglaigh na hÉireann. In a moment of extreme danger, they acted decisively, selflessly and with complete regard for the protection of life.
“This outcome is a direct reflection of the rigorous training, discipline and values instilled in our personnel throughout their careers.
“I am immensely proud of these soldiers. Their conduct brings great pride to their unit, An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe (The 1st Infantry Battalion), and to the Defence Forces as a whole, and it reinforces the trust placed in us by the people we serve,” he added.
