Man appears in court accused of stabbing priest in Waterford

A man has appeared in court charged with stabbing a priest in Waterford.

The incident happened on Sunday morning at a chaplains’ house near University Hospital Waterford (UHW) in Ardkeen.

Anthony Sweeney (22), from O’Connell Court, Penrose Lane, Waterford City, appeared before a special sitting of Waterford District Court charged with assault causing harm. It is alleged that he “scaled a wall” from the department of psychiatry at UHW and gained access to the nearby chaplains’ house, where three priests live.

Mr Sweeney is alleged to have armed himself with a peeling knife taken from the kitchen before going upstairs. The court heard he met a priest coming from the bathroom who he “stabbed six times” in the face and head, and four times in the back. The handle of the knife broke during the attack, Det Garda Liam Harty said.

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The priest, a man in his 30s, required hospital treatment following the attack but he was deemed fit enough to be discharged on Sunday evening.

The incident happened at 9.16am and CCTV indicated that the man fled the house two minutes later, Det Garda Harty said.

He said the “violent” and “completely unprovoked” attack was interrupted by another priest, which prompted Mr Sweeney to flee by jumping from the upper floor of the house, injuring himself in the process. The accused discarded his shoes and socks and returned to his bed in the department of psychiatry, where he was arrested shortly afterwards, the detective added.

Det Garda Harty said that while the attack was brief, it was very serious and that the charges could be upgraded to include “attempted murder and burglary”.

As the case was outlined in court, Mr Sweeney interjected and turned on his microphone to say: “Can you get on with it?”

Gardaí lodged an objection to bail which was granted by Judge John Cheatle.

Defence barrister Andrew Walsh said his client is entitled to a presumption of innocence and requested legal aid along with a psychiatric report, which were granted by the judge.

Judge Cheatle remanded Mr Sweeney in custody and put the case back for mention on Tuesday.