A woman in her 50s was stabbed inside a church in Ireland shortly before morning Mass on Tuesday. The attack occurred at Holy Cross Church in Summerhill, Tramore, County Waterford at about 9.45am.

The victim, a well-known local parishioner aged in her 50s, suffered a single knife wound at the altar and was taken to Waterford University Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A man in his 30s, from the local area, was arrested a short time later at a nearby domestic residence.

He is being held at a Garda station in Co Waterford under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Gardai (Irish Police) seized a knife at the scene which will be forensically examined.

Multiple units, including specialist armed gardaí from the Armed Support Unit, responded to the incident. Paramedics from the National Ambulance Service also attended.

The Diocese of Waterford & Lismore said in a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured parishioner, and we pray for her full and speedy recovery.”

The diocese praised the courage of parishioners who assisted during the “frightening incident” and thanked priests, gardai and emergency services for their swift response.

Parish Priest Richard O’Halloran described the event as “very shocking”. He confirmed the woman is a member of the parish and said parishioners and a colleague “responded wonderfully well”.

Fr O’Halloran added that the incident happened in the main body of the church before Mass and believed it to be random, though the matter remains under investigation.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses or anyone with video footage to come forward.

They are particularly seeking information from anyone in the Summerhill area between 9.15am and 10.15am. Investigations are ongoing.