'They did nothing to deserve it': Parnell Square accused said he did not mean to hurt anyone

Eoin Reynolds

When gardaí showed Riad Bouchaker CCTV footage from the scene where he is alleged to have attempted to murder three children, he told them he was upset due to a negative decision from the social welfare department, but he did not mean to hurt anyone.

He also told gardaí that he had never done anything similar before in his life and, mentioning a girl, he said he was "ready for whatever the family wants".

He later said: "I was told the girl was saved and I am happy that she is saved."

The trial jury has been viewing CCTV footage of 52-year-old Bouchaker's garda interviews from December 20th, 2023, at Mountjoy Garda Station. He had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

In his second interview, Garda Conor Mackey put it to Bouchaker that he was angry at the social welfare and asked him why his anger made him "do that".

Bouchaker replied: "I don't know why I did that. My mind feels like there is no brain in my head. If feels squeezed, smashed. Do whatever you want to me guys."

He said he thanked god all the children are alive, adding: "They did nothing to deserve what happened to them but it wasn't me in my right mind."

When Gda Mackey asked Bouchaker, "why children?" He replied: "I know the parents got hurt most by this incident in which the children were hurt, but I would never do that in my conscious mind."

Bouchaker said he knew he did something wrong, adding: "I was upset because of the negative decision from social welfare but I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

The trial previously heard that one of the girls injured in the alleged attack suffered severe brain damage due to blood loss having been stabbed in the heart.

Bouchaker, of no fixed address, is 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 his trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.