Galway Juvenile District Court sat in closed session on Tuesday where the 16-year-old accused of stabbing army chaplain Fr Paul Murphy last week appeared by video link from Oberstown Detention Centre in Co Dublin.
The teenager, who may not be named as he is aged under 18, is charged with assault causing harm to Fr Murphy at Renmore Barracks on the evening of Thursday, August 15. Dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt, the young male appeared by video link. He did not speak during a four-minute hearing except to confirm his identity.
On foot of an application from the State, Judge Gerard Furlong extended the period the accused will be held on remand in Oberstown until Monday, September 2, adding that any bail application will be a matter for the High Court.
The court was cleared for the brief hearing, except for a couple understood to be the teenager’s parents. A number of uniformed and plain clothes gardaí from Galway attended the hearing, in addition to at least one officer from a specialist unit in Dublin.
Defence solicitor Jack Donohue told Judge Furlong that psychological and other services previously requested by the court for his client had not yet been provided. Judge Furlong said appropriate medical care and access to other services should be provided while the boy is in detention.
