Gardaí examine if mental health and drug abuse played part in Tramore church stabbing

A woman in her 50s suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed outside a Waterford church before Mass, with investigators examining the suspect's background, phone, and social media activity

Gardai at the scene of the knife attack at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Tramore, Co Waterford. Picture: Patrick Browne

Gardaí are examining whether serious mental health issues and long-term drug abuse may have played a part in the shocking stabbing of a woman just before Mass at a Waterford church on Tuesday morning.

Detectives are also examining the man’s phone and social media activity for any clues, including his Facebook page, which contains numerous Catholic and Christian posts and images published this year.

The woman, aged in her 50s, was stabbed once with a knife, inflicting what gardaí described as “serious but not life-threatening injuries”.

The incident happened at 9.45am, as parishioners were taking part in rosary service ahead of 10am Mass at the Holy Cross Church in Tramore, a landmark in the upper part of the popular seaside town.

The suspect is a local, born in Ireland, who lives close to the church. There are local reports he may have been going to the church over the last week and possibly up to three weeks.

Witnesses said the victim was praying in a pew, towards the front of the church, when a man lunged at her and stabbed her once, possibly in the upper body.

She screamed and managed to move away from the attacker, who fled. He was arrested soon after at his home by gardaí.

The man, aged 36, is known to local gardaí over the decades in relation to mental health incidents and drug abuse, including missing person searches.

It is understood that someone close to the man died violently almost 20 years ago.

Detectives were trying to establish in interviews with the suspect what led to the serious escalation in his behaviour. There are reports the man may have made strange comments to gardaí.

In a statement, Garda HQ said the suspect was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, which allows for a maximum detention of 24 hours, excluding sleep breaks.

The statement confirmed that gardaí “seized a knife”, which is being technically examined.

Officers were in contact with the DPP on Tuesday night on whether to bring charges.

'Shock and disbelief'

Local Sinn Féin councillor Jim Griffin said he had spoken to elderly parishioners who were at the church, and that they were in “shock and disbelief” and “terrified” to return.

He said: “This is an isolated and unprovoked attack and I have to praise the emergency services and gardaí who got here so quickly."

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan said: “People are deeply shocked. Tramore, as a community, is quite closeknit. 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.

It is understood that up to a dozen priests may gather for rosary prayers on Wednesday and co-celebrate 10am Mass to reassure parishioners.