Fr Paul Murphy, the Army chaplain who was stabbed by a 17-year-old at Renmore Barracks last year, believes there’s a chance for change if he chooses to “fight hatred with love”, reports RTE.
The incident took place on 15 August 2024 at the Galway barracks, where Fr Murphy was repeatedly stabbed by the teenager.
The attacker was sentenced last month to ten years in detention, with the final two years suspended, reports RTE.
Fr Murphy expressed gratitude that it was he — and not someone else — who was targeted.
He said he remembers the incident “vividly,” stating, “while I didn’t remember his face, I do remember the determination on his face and the real intent to put an end to my life”, reports RTE.
In an interview on RTÉ’s Sunday with Miriam, he noted that most people believed he “just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
“Now I would dispute that, and I would say that that wasn’t the case at all. In my view, I was the right person in the right place at the right time,” reports RTE.
He explained that many young soldiers pass through the barracks’ gates regularly.
“I had a certain protection on my car, I’m of a certain age now,” he said, reports RTE.
“I was in a position where I could contextualise what happened in a way that would be much more difficult for somebody who was a young soldier,” he added, reports RTE.
Fr Murphy said there were “so many blessings” that night, pointing to his late return from a swim and the fact that his car window didn’t open all the way.
“If it had opened the full way, I would be dead,” he said, reports RTE.
He continued: “Our Lady of the Rosary is the patroness of the Defense Forces. My rosary beads were beside me in the car, I had an image of my guardian angel on my visor. I was going nowhere that night,” reports RTE.
He described feeling “proud and honoured” to carry the scars from the attack, saying: “I am very happy to have that as I think that’s a sign of love for the Defence Forces.”
Reflecting on the moment he embraced the boy in court, Fr Murphy said he had hoped that the “offer of forgiveness would change something”, reports RTE.
“You can fight hate with hate and then we become entrenched in our hatred, and we continue to hate one another, and I think there’s enough of that going on in the world,” he said, reports RTE.
“I just believe that if I can fight hatred with love, well then there’s an opportunity for something different to happen,” he added, reports RTE.
Fr Murphy said the young man’s apology showed that “the risk of forgiveness paid off”.
He expressed hope that the teenager could be de-radicalised and return to society, reports RTE.
“If he can do this for himself, it means that he can make a good positive contribution to society for the rest of his life, rather than just being full of hate,” he said, reports RTE.
While the chaplain said he can “personally forgive”, he acknowledged the severity of the crime.
“There was an offence against the State, an offence against the Defence Forces, an offence against every soldier who walks through the gate of the barracks, so that price has to be paid,” he said, reports RTE.
He added: “To me I wasn’t out to say ‘oh he has to be in prison for 20, 30, 40 years’ that doesn’t matter to me. Once I know that that boy is a better person coming out than going in, well then I’m happy with that,” reports RTE.
Commenting on the media attention his courtroom embrace received, Fr Murphy said that forgiveness is at the heart of what he does.
“I’m just surprised that a bit of mercy and compassion is so extraordinary, that it makes headlines,” he said, reports RTE.
“Maybe if we were a bit more forgiving in the world, a bit less harsh on others, we might just have a better world,” he added, reports RTE.
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