A 16-year-old boy was remanded in custody after appearing before a special sitting of Galway County Youth Court on Saturday in connection with the stabbing of a military chaplain in the city on Thursday.
The defendant, whose identity cannot be verified due to his minor age, is accused of assaulting Father Paul F. Murphy at Renmore Barracks.
During a bail hearing, Judge Gerard Furlong was told that further, more serious charges could follow and that it was believed that “the accused has radical Islamic beliefs”.
Garda Conor Breen testified that he arrested the teenager at Renmore Army Barracks in Galway at 11.10pm on August 15 and charged him at 11.31pm on August 16. Garda Breen said the accused made no reply to the charge.
Det Sgt Paul McNulty said gardaí objected to bail for a number of reasons. He said the defendant was charged with an offence which, if convicted, carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He said it was expected that further charges could follow once the case was fully resolved, including assault occasioning grievous bodily harm or attempted murder, both of which carried a life sentence.
“Based on the evidence secured during this investigation, it is believed that the defendant has radical Islamist views,” Det Sgt McNulty told the court. “An initial analysis of the devices attributed to the defendant has shown that the contents support the terrorist group Islamic State.”
Det Sgt McNulty said Father Murphy was attacked as he rolled down the window of his car while waiting to enter Renmore Barracks. He said the chaplain suffered seven deep lacerations and several smaller cuts to both arms from a large “hunting knife” found at the scene.
Father Murphy (52) underwent surgery on Friday to treat several wounds. Military sources said the operation went well and he remains in good spirits in hospital. He is expected to be discharged in the next few days.”
Det. Sgt. McNulty said Father Murphy was not known to the accused and there had been a “random selection” of the victim.
Defence lawyer Jack Donohue, of the firm Gearoid Geraghty and Company Solicitors, said the teenager’s parents, who were present in the courtroom, were willing to act as sureties and support him.
Under the Children Act, he said, detention should only be considered as a last resort. He said his client was prepared to comply with all bail conditions, including staying away from Renmore Barracks and all witnesses, obeying a curfew and not appearing on social media. The defendant spoke briefly to his lawyer during the 32-minute hearing but did not address the court.
Judge Furlong said he was refusing bail due to the seriousness of the case and the evidence.
He remanded the accused to Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus in Dublin and ordered him to appear before Galway District Court via video link next Tuesday, 20 August.
Judge Furlong granted the defendant free legal aid and authorized the assignment of a lawyer. He also ordered that the defendant should receive appropriate medical and psychological care on arrival at the detention center.
When the teenager arrived in a Garda van, there was a large Garda presence outside the courthouse and a small number of onlookers.
