Jury watches video of Parnell Square accused's Garda interviews

Eoin Reynolds

A jury has begun watching a video of a Garda interview with Riad Bouchaker, which was conducted almost one month after he is alleged to have attempted to murder three children on a Dublin street.

Sgt Ben Gaughan on Monday told prosecution counsel Karl Finnegan that he was the member in charge of Mountjoy Garda Station when Bouchaker (52) was brought in for questioning. The interviews were recorded on DVD, he said.

Bouchaker was aided by a French-Arabic interpreter and his solicitor was present throughout.

Finnegan played the beginning of the first interview, which began at 11:11am on December 20th, 2023.

At the outset, gardaí cautioned Bouchaker that they would ask him questions and while he was not required to answer, any replies he did make would be written down and may be used as evidence.

When asked for his understanding of the caution, Bouchaker said: "Do not say anything, do not hear anything, do what they tell you."

After the garda explained the caution again, Bouchaker replied: "As long as you know my situation, sometimes I lose concentration and... whatever you guys want to do, do it."

Bouchaker, of no fixed address, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to creche worker Leanne Flynn, at Parnell Square East in Dublin City on November 23rd, 2023.

He is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and he is on trial at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.