Man (30s) to appear in court charged in connection with Waterford church incident 

Gardaí at the scene of the serious assault at the Holy Cross Church in Tramore. Photo: Patrick Browne

A man in his 30s is due to appear in court after a woman was stabbed at a church in Waterford yesterday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 9.45am, as parishioners were taking part in rosary service ahead of 10am Mass at the Holy Cross Church in Tramore.

A woman in her 50s was taken to Waterford University Hospital for treatment of what were described as “serious but non-life threatening injuries”.

A man in his 30s was arrested at a house located nearby and gardaí also seized a knife for technical examination.

Gardaí appealed for witnesses to come forward, asking anyone who was in the vicinity of Summerhill, Tramore between 9:15am and 10:15am yesterday and who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, to make this footage available to gardaí.

In an update, a garda spokesperson said the man arrested in connection with the serious assault has since been charged and is due to appear before Waterford District Court this morning at 10:30am.

'Shock' in Tramore 

Following the incident yesterday, local Sinn Féin councillor Jim Griffin paid tribute to emergency services who attended the scene. 

He said he had spoken to elderly parishioners who were at the church, and that they were in “shock and disbelief” and “terrified” to return.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan said: “People are deeply shocked. Tramore, as a community, is quite close knit. This type of incident is unheard of here.”

In a statement, the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore said it was "deeply shocked by a violent incident" at Holy Cross Church and said thoughts and prayers were with the injured parishioner.

It commended the “courage and presence of mind” shown of parishioners who came to the woman's aid.