Alleged Stabbing Of Army Chaplain: Serious Injuries -Galway Barracks
A reported alleged stabbing of an army chaplain occurred at Galway barracks on Thursday night. A man in his 50s was stabbed several times and is now seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 10:45 pm at Renmore Barracks, Galway. Now that he is at University Hospital Galway, the army chaplain is receiving urgent medical attention for his wounds. However, the doctors said the injuries were not fatal.
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The members of Defence Forces present at the scene had detained a teenage boy before Gardai came and arrested him.
Gardai took him to the Garda police station for further investigation in the North Western Region.
It is also reported that five gunshots were fired by the Forces following the self-defence rules. Garda spokesperson said that from the information available at the moment, the man in his 50s is assumed to be an army chaplain.
The scene is closed for technical examination of the area which is carried out by Garda Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit. The public awaits a deeper probe as the current reports only indicate that the army chaplain was allegedly stabbed by the teenager who was carrying a knife at the entry of Galway barracks.
Disapprobation from higher authorities over alleged stabbing
The Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tánaiste Micheál Martin condemned the attack and acknowledged the efforts of Garda police as well as the Defence Forces that were prompt and well-strategized.
He said, “I condemn the violent attack at Renmore Barracks last night. I commend the members of the Defence Forces on duty at the time, whose intervention was critical. Our thoughts are with the Defence Forces member injured in the attack”.
The local councillor, Alan Cheevers, gave a statement that the army chaplain is “very much part of the community” in the Renmore area. According to him, he has spent 12 years serving the community’s barracks.
Cheevers was of the view that something like this happening in an area that has a meagre crime rate is very surprising. It appears to be sheer “anti-social behaviour that is really, really concerning”, he said.
The representative body of Defence forces in Ireland, the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA), is horrified by the attack too. Their President, Mark Keane, proclaimed, “We are saddened by this horrific attack on the chaplain- we wish him a speedy recovery”.
The General Secretary of RACO, Conor King, a public service organisation in Ireland, expressed similar views by stating, “All members of the Defence Forces are disgusted and hugely concerned by this vicious, unprovoked attack on the chaplain”.
He wished the chaplain a fast recovery and thanked all those who were present at the scene and affirmed their swift actions that saved the man’s life.
