Woman stabbed during Mass at Catholic church in Ireland

Catholic church in Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland. Photo: rte.ie

A woman was stabbed at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Tramore, County Waterford, Ireland, on July 20, 2026, while the Rosary was being recited before morning Mass, RTÉ reports.

Police said the victim, a woman in her 50s, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to University Hospital Waterford.

The suspect – a man in his 30s – was arrested shortly after the attack. Police also recovered a knife believed to have been used in the assault.

Parish priest Fr. Richard O’Halloran said the attack occurred in the presence of around 50–60 people who had gathered in the church for communal prayer before the Sunday service.

The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore said it was "deeply shocked" by the incident, expressed support for the victim, and thanked parishioners and emergency services for their swift response.

Town councillor Joe Kelly described a knife attack inside a church as “kind of off the scales.”

“It's not something that we regularly see or indeed have ever seen. And I think it's scaring people and it's worrying because you just don't know. You think a church and mass is a safe place to be. And with an attack like this, it shows that, there really is no place safe,” Kelly said.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

As the UOJ previously reported, a priest was earlier stabbed at a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Kalmykia.

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