Dublin stabbing trial opens as man accused of trying to murder three children

10 June 2026 , 17:05

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The trial of 52-year-old Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed address, commenced before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Wednesday.

A man accused of attempting to murder three children made repeated stabbing movements, an Irish jury has been informed.

The trial of 52-year-old Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed address, commenced before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Wednesday.

He is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to a care worker, at Parnell Square East in Dublin City on November 23, 2023.

He is also accused of assaulting three other people and of producing a 36cm-long kitchen knife.

Mr. Bouchaker, who is using an interpreter, previously pleaded not guilty to all eight charges.

Trial judge Mr. Justice Tony Hunt informed the jury of nine men and three women about the presumption of innocence granted to Mr. Bouchaker and that they must decide on the charges based on the standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the prosecution, Karl Finnegan SC outlined to the jury what evidence he expected them to hear during the course of the trial.

He stated that the prosecution case was that young school children were leaving Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East on the afternoon of November 23, 2023, and being led to an afterschool program by creche staff.

Mr. Finnegan added they would argue that Mr. Bouchaker approached those children, produced a knife, and began stabbing or attempting to stab them.

He mentioned that they were likely to hear that an afterschool staff member tried to intervene and was herself stabbed before other members of the public intervened and restrained Mr. Bouchaker.

Mr. Finnegan told the jury members they were all likely to have heard of the incident that attracted "a considerable amount of public attention," including commentary and social media, but urged them to put all of that entirely out of their minds and decide the case only on evidence they see in the court.

The prosecutor said they were likely to see CCTV footage of the attack during the trial and also hear evidence on the "medical consequences of what happened" as well as Garda interviews with Mr. Bouchaker.

He stated they would also hear from parents of some of the children.

Mr. Finnegan said the jury was likely to hear that Mr. Bouchaker was upset by a letter informing him of a rejected social welfare application.

The barrister mentioned they were likely to hear that the accused repeatedly said he was sick and not in his right state of mind and did not mean to harm anyone.

He informed the jury they were likely to hear he had previously suffered a benign tumor which required brain surgery in 2021 and that he suffered a further head injury during the interventions of members of the public, which required hospital treatment for roughly a month.

Mr. Finnegan said Mr. Bouchaker now had an "acquired brain injury" which affected his concentration and attention, and the trial would have breaks to accommodate this.

However, he argued there would be no suggestion he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the incident itself.

The barrister told the jury they were likely to hear that one of the children suffered life-threatening injuries and that when the assistance of an ambulance technician was obtained, the child had no pulse and was not breathing.

He said they would be told that the child had a central chest wound and heart injury, while another had a significant head wound and a third had a wound to their neck.

Mr. Finnegan said the jury were likely to hear that Mr. Bouchaker also said in Garda interviews that he did not want to kill or harm the children.

The barrister said that intent is rarely proved by a person announcing it and that the prosecution would suggest it can be proved by what a person does.

For example, he said this could relate to what weapon is used, where blows are directed, and how often they are delivered.

He said they would be asked to consider the use of the knife, the "selection" of the children, and the targeting of the upper body, chest, neck, and head areas – as well as "repeated stabbing or jabbing movements" and the need for members of the public to intervene.

The trial continues.