Gardaí have arrested a teenager after a man was assaulted outside an Army barracks in Galway city.
The man received a number of stab wounds during the incident which occurred at approximately 10.45pm on Thursday night.
He was taken to University Hospital Galway for treatment of injuries that are serious but not life-threatening.
The teenage boy was restrained by members of the Defence Forces and arrested by gardaí at the scene.
He is currently detained at a Garda Station in the North Western Region.
The scene is currently preserved, and a technical examination will be carried out today by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.
One line of enquiry is to establish if this attack had a terrorism motivation.
A spokesman for the Defence Forces said that shots were fired by on-duty personnel after the chaplain was attacked.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said his thoughts are with the member of the Defence Forces in hospital.
“I have been briefed on the shocking incident outside Renmore Barracks last night and my thoughts are with the member of the Defence Forces in hospital.
“I want to thank Defence Forces personnel and Gardai for their action and response,” he posted on the social network X.
Tánaiste, and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin condemned the attack.
“I condemn the violent attack at Renmore Barracks last night,” he posted on X.
“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.”
In a statement, a spokesman for the Defence Forces said: “The Defence Forces can confirm that an incident occurred at Dun Ui Mhaoliosa, Renmore, Co Galway yesterday evening where shots were fired by on duty Defence Forces personnel.
“This action was taken in strict accordance with force protection protocols after a Defence Forces member was assaulted by a male civilian.
“The soldiers on duty responded to the immediate threat with appropriate force to ensure the safety of personnel and secure the area.
“The assailant was quickly detained and handed over to An Garda Siochana, who are now conducting a full investigation into the incident.
