Psychiatric report on alleged Parnell Square attacker complete, court hears
Ryan Dunne
A psychiatric report has now been completed on Riad Bouchaker, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square in Dublin, a court has heard.
At the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, a senior counsel acting for Mr Bouchaker said he received the report on Tuesday and will make it available to the Director of Public Prosecutions in due course.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott put the matter back for mention to July 23rd.
Mr Bouchaker (51), of no fixed abode, is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy. He is also charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker and possession or production of a knife.
The incident occurred at Parnell Square on the afternoon of November 23rd, 2023.
In December last year, the court was told that a psychiatrist assessing the accused man deemed it necessary to have further work carried out by a neuropsychologist. In April, the court heard that the expert's report had been made available, but the psychiatrist requested a further four weeks to review matters.
The court also heard that the treating doctor had encountered delays accessing the defendant in prison and with regard to the availability of an interpreter.
At the last mention of the case on May 28th, the court was told that the psychiatrist had indicated she would complete her own report within three weeks.
At that same sitting, Mr Justice McDermott noted the age of the complainants and said the case must be given priority as soon as the psychiatric issue was resolved. He asked that everyone involved, including lawyers and professionals, "strain themselves" to ensure it gets on as quickly as possible.
In February this year, the Department of Justice and the courts announced a protocol to fast-track trials involving children. The courts have committed to completing the trial process within one year, where possible, if a child is the alleged victim or perpetrator.
