According to The Irish Examiner newspaper, 79-year-old Bishop Bill Murphy was attacked by a man while on a train journey between Kerry and Dublin in August. Details of the alleged assault have only now come to light.

The man accused in the incident, aged in his 30s, was reportedly drinking during his journey and launched his attack out of anger at a perceived weak response on the part of the Diocese of Kerry to clerical sexual abuse. Having spotted Bishop Murphy travelling on the same carriage, the man is said to have approached the prelateand struck him in the face before another passenger intervened to prevent any further assault. The assailant was subsequently led from the carriage by two rail employees and later met by gardaí on arrival at Heuston station in Dublin.