Man pleads not guilty to attempted murder of three children in Dublin

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

A man has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of three children in Dublin city centre three years ago.

Riad Bouchaker, 52, of no fixed address, appeared before the Central Criminal Court on Monday, 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 23rd 2023.

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

Speaking through an interpreter, he pleaded not guilty to all eight charges.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt told a panel of potential jurors that the trial could take up to five weeks.

A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in on Monday afternoon ahead of the trial opening on Wednesday morning.

A five-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s were left in a critical condition after the attack in November 2023; a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were also injured.

The incident came hours before a riot in the Irish capital.

Mr Justice Hunt said the events in the aftermath of the incident were the subject of “a significant degree of publicity” that “some or all of you” may have been exposed to.

He asked any potential jurors to be “open-minded and objective” as the accused has an entitlement to the presumption of innocence, the same as any other defendant.

The jurors were also told that the case may be a “lengthy and perhaps painstaking” process and may require “more than ordinary patience” because of accommodations for Mr Bouchaker to ensure he receives a fair trial.

He told them that they would likely hear that Mr Bouchaker had previously suffered from a benign brain tumour and had received an operation in 2021.

He said they would also likely hear that he suffered a head injury on the day of the incident, November 23 2023, which required him to receive “significant” medical treatment in the hospital.

Mr Hunt said the result of the prior surgery and head injury is that Mr Bouchaker has “an acquired brain injury” which affects his attention span, and accommodations would be needed to ensure he has a fair trial.

He said there is “no disagreement” from either legal side about Mr Bouchaker’s injuries.

Mr Justice Hunt said he had ruled that Mr Bouchaker is fit to stand trial, but certain accommodations have been granted to him.

He said he has been given an interpreter as well as assistance with language and mediation, that shorter court sitting times may be required to accommodate his “attention deficits”, and more frequent breaks may be needed to consult with his legal team.

He said the verdicts available to them will be guilty or not guilty.

The trial will open before the Central Criminal Court at 11am on Wednesday.