The army chaplain who was stabbed in an incident at Renmore Barracks in Galway last night has thanked the public for their prayers and said he is awaiting surgery.
A teenage boy was arrested after the incident.
Fr Paul Murphy also apologised for not being able to take all the calls that were coming his way.
In a post on Facebook, Fr Murphy said: "Friends, thank you for your prayers, love, and concern. Sorry that I can't reply to all messages and take all the calls coming my way".
The chaplain has been through surgery and is comfortable. It is understood family members are by his bedside.
President Michael D Higgins has sent his best wishes to Fr Murphy following what the president described as a "shocking incident".
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he has been kept informed on the investigation by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
"My thoughts remain with Defence Forces Chaplin, Fr Paul Murphy, and on behalf of the government I wish him a speedy recovery and want to thank the officers of the gardaí and Defence Forces for their response," Mr Harris said.
I have been briefed on the shocking incident outside Renmore Barracks last night & my thoughts are with the member of the defence forces in hospital. I want to thank defence forces personnel & Gardai for their action and response.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 16, 2024
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin condemned the "violent attack" on the priest and thanked Defence Forces personnel for their swift response to what happened.
In a message on X, the Tánaiste 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."
Locals in the area described what happened as shocking, given the area is normally very quiet.
"I heard what sounded like three high-powered shots. I live close to the barracks so it wouldn't be unusual to hear shots because there's a firing range behind the barracks. But it was after dark, which is unusual," said local man Max Kelly.
"Then I heard sirens soon after and woke up shocked to hear a priest we all know in the neighbourhood was injured."
"This is a very quiet, peaceful area, there’s a lot of older people here" said Kitty Wheatley, who added Fr Murphy is "a lovely man".
Michael John Melia said locals could "never in their wildest dreams" have predicted something like this would happen.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said that gardaí responded "promptly" to the incident last night, and paid tribute to the Defence Forces members who intervened.
In a statement, she said that her thoughts were with Fr Murphy and wished him a speedy recovery.
"As this is a live Garda investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time," she said.
Mark Keane, President of PDFORRA, said that members of the defence forces are "very saddened" at the "horrific attack", and that their "thoughts and prayers are with" Fr Murphy.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Keane said that Fr Murphy has over ten year's service with the batallion in Galway, and has also served on "many trip" overseas.
As an army chaplain, Fr Murphy's contribution is "vital" and not confined to spiritual concerns.
"We are a military family. So, they are with us through the good times, the bad times. Overseas, when we deploy."
That attack took place outside the barracks is "of grave concern", Mr Keane said, but also pointed to the reaction of army personnel which "saved two lives".
Their training "paid dividends", he added.
Conor King, General Secretary of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO), condemned "the barbarous and cowardly" attack which he said had shocked members of the defence forces.
He told RTÉ's Drivetime that "every soldier who is doing regimental duty around the country" had been briefed this morning "in relation to the graduated use of force protocols".
Force must be preventative and justified, he said.
He also noted that Fr Murphy was wearing civilian clothes at the time of the attack.
Sinn Féin's Defence Spokesperson Matt Carthy wished the army chaplain a "speedy recovery".
He added members of the Defences Forces "prevented a heinious attack from becoming a terrible tragedy".
Independent TD Matt Shanahan has said that he was shocked to hear about the attack, and thanked the army for their "prompt intervention undoubtedly preventing a far greater tragedy".
Shocked to hear of attack in Galway on #Waterford priest and army chaplain Fr. Paul Murphy. Thanks due to army sentries for their prompt intervention undoubtedly preventing a far greater tragedy. I wish Paul a speedy recovery - thoughts & prayers from his wider Waterford family! pic.twitter.com/b8oQEfvkr8
— Matt Shanahan TD (Ind) 🇮🇪 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 (@MattShanahanTD) August 16, 2024
Bishop of Galway Michael Duignan said: "News of the assault on a Catholic priest, who is presently serving as Chaplain to the Irish Defence Forces in Galway, is deeply shocking and upsetting.
"I pray for the injured man, asking God that he would make a full recovery. I pray too for his family, for his army colleagues and for the medical personnel who are tending to his injuries at this time."
Declan Power, a security analyst, said that the attack took place as Fr Murphy was waiting in his car for the security barrier at the barracks to open, and continued as Fr Murphy "accelerated forward with the assailant attached to the car".
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, he said that, at that point, the military policeman and sentry on duty responded.
The sentry fired "a number of warning shots, that resulted in the assailant eventually being disarmed," Mr Power said.
He agreed with Mr Keane's remark that two lives had been saved.
"Full marks to the personnel on duty."
"In other jurisdictions, it would be have been highly likely that the assailant would have been shot dead at that stage, and the sentry would have been justified in doing so."
Had the attack taken place elsewhere, "we could be talking about a greater tragedy," Mr Power said.
A security review of barracks nationwide is now "likely", he said, especially if gardaí establish that the attack was "motivated by some way politically".
If "personal motives" lay behind the attack, "that would lessen the need" for a security review, Mr Power added, but noted that a review of procedures should be expected.
