Waterford chaplain stabbed by teenager to receive medal for distinguished service

Fr Paul Murphy, an army chaplain from Waterford, will receive a medal for distinguished service along with the three soldiers who came to his aid when he was stabbed by a radicalised Islamist in August 2024.

Fr Murphy was stabbed multiple times by a teenager outside of Renmore Barracks, Co. Galway.

In April 2025 the teenager was sentenced to eight years' detention for attempted murder.

Corporal Daniel Padden, Private Dylan Geraghty and Private Ciara Shanahan will receive medals for distinguished service for their response to Fr Murphy’s stabbing.

The medal for distinguished service for the defence forces is awarded in recognition of individual or associated acts of bravery, courage, leadership, resource or devotion to duty.

Fr Murphy studied at St John’s College in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore and was ordained at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity on Barronstrand Street in 1996.

He spent six years at the Fenor Parish in Tramore before leaving in 2013 for St Patrick’s Garrison Church, Renmore Barracks with the 1st Infantry Battalion.

Fr Murphy has spent multiple spells in war-torn Lebanon with the Defence Forces.

“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,” said Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy.

“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.”

Fr Murphy’s medal will be presented by Minister for Defence Helen McEntee at the Renmore Barracks in February.

Fr Murphy was stabbed by a boy in secondary school - then aged 16 - multiple times as he arrived to the barracks after a swim.

Garda inspections at the boy’s house showed evidence of Islamic radicalisation, with Islamic State posters and a notebook with violent sketches depicting beheadings in his home.

Speaking at the sentencing of the boy at the Central Criminal Court, Fr Murphy forgave his attacker. He said he was “best placed to take the knife”.

“My only desire is that the young man before you would learn to see the error of his ways and, when the time comes, return to society to make a positive contribution to the world as a wholesome, happy, and loving person,” he said in his victim impact statement.

Speaking to his attacker, Fr Murphy said: “My hope and prayer is that you will use whatever resources are put at your disposal, in prison or beyond, to learn a better way of living and that you will use your energy and your talents to make our world a better place for all people to live.

“Life is for living and for loving, and, I promise you, your life will find its ultimate joy when you live honourably and love generously.

"I thank God every single day that the knife tore through my skin, and not through the body of one of my comrades. I consider it an honour and a privilege to carry those scars until my dying day.” 

The boy was reported to have said “I’m sorry” out loud in the court.