Riad Bouchaker denied that he 'went for the smallest children' in alleged Parnell Square attack

Eoin Reynolds

Riad Bouchaker denied to gardaí that he went for the smallest children he could find when he is alleged to have attempted to murder two five-year-olds and a six-year-old on Parnell Square East.

The 52-year-old's trial also heard today that gardaí are "firmly of the view" that nobody supported, encouraged or assisted Bouchaker on the day of the alleged attack that left one child with severe brain damage due to blood loss from a stab wound to the heart.

Detective Garda Kevin Bambrick has been showing the jury in Bouchaker's trial DVD footage of interviews with the accused at Mountjoy Garda Station on December 20th and 21st, 2023.

In Bouchaker's seventh and final interview, Det Gda Gary Moran put it to Bouchaker that he walked from his home on Little Britain Street in Dublin with a knife in his rucksack.

The garda said the accused searched for a specific school on his mobile phone, asked a number of people for directions and inquired as to what time classes would finish.

The garda showed him CCTV footage which he said showed Bouchaker about 30 minutes before the alleged attack, following a group of "taller, bigger, older" children who were accompanied by adults. Gda Moran said he believed Bouchaker was "about to attack" those children but decided it was too risky.

Bouchaker said these were the actions of someone who is sick. "If I wasn't sick, I wouldn't," he said.

Gda Moran suggested that Bouchaker demonstrated "restraint and patience" as he waited in the Parnell Square area for 37 minutes. "I was not in the right state of mind," Bouchaker said.

Gda Moran reminded Bouchaker that many times during his interviews he had thanked god that none of the children had passed away. Gda Moran added: "The children are not okay, you are wrong about that. The full effects of this will live with those children forever. They're not okay, so you can stop saying that."

Gda Moran detailed the injuries to each child and to creche worker Leanne Flynn.

Bouchaker said, "sorry", after the garda detailed the injury to a girl who suffered a wound 10mm deep to her head that resulted in part of her skull being removed.

The garda also detailed the wounds to  Flynn, who suffered a punctured lung and had her spleen surgically removed.

Gda Moran added: "When you attacked these children, when you stabbed them with your knife, Leanne protected them. So when you thank god [that nobody passed away], don't bother, you can thank Leanne. And you stabbed Leanne as well."

Bouchaker replied that he was correct to thank the lady for protecting the children. He added: "It looks like my mind flew away."

Gda Moran suggested that Bouchaker knew "exactly" what he was doing and when Flynn tried to prevent him from stabbing the children, he stabbed her so he could return to attacking the children.

Gda Moran then showed Bouchaker a still image of a then five-year-old girl who, he said, died and was revived at the scene having suffered a stab wound to the heart. Bouchaker responded: "I'm a believer. I would not hurt anyone. I would not harm anyone."

Gda Moran put it to Bouchaker that he searched for and found the school on his phone, spoke to people rationally and asked them for directions. He interacted with many people but didn't stab any of them, the garda said.

Gda Moran said Bouchaker had gone around the back of the school, looked over the wall and saw the children playing. He said Bouchaker had the "instinct not to go after bigger children who could defend themselves."

He added: "You went for the smallest children you could find. Leanne intervened, you stabbed her and went back to the children. You demonstrated a full mind, made decisions and carried out this attack."

Bouchaker replied: "That's wrong. I'm not in my mind. I was not in my right state of mind. I did not know what doing. I did something wrong to children."

When Gda Moran put it to him that he had waited until there were as few adults around as possible, Bouchaker said: "I'm sick".

Bouchaker said he thanked god there were no fatalities and added: "I am a sick person. Do to me whatever you want."

When the garda asked what his sickness was, Bouchaker mentioned an injury to his shoulder. The French Arabic translator who had been interpreting for Bouchaker asked the gardaí for a break, saying, "I think I am fainting."

Det Gda Bambrick, who had been taking notes while Det Gda Moran spoke to Bouchaker, on Wednesday told prosecution counsel Carol Doherty that after the interpreter's break, gardaí read over the memo of the interview.

Bouchaker repeated that he is a "sick person" and said he cannot see from one eye. He referred to a letter from the Department of Social Welfare, which he said "frustrated me" and added: "Life might be better in here than out there."

Det Sgt Padraig Cleary was the senior officer overseeing the investigation. He told Karl Finnegan, prosecuting, that when he charged Bouchaker, he replied to the second attempted murder charge by saying: "I am a sick person." He did not respond to any of the other charges.

Under cross-examination, Det Sgt Cleary agreed with Bouchaker's defence counsel that in 2021, the accused suffered cognitive impairment due to brain surgery.

He has a history of seizures and hospitalisations associated with that injury, counsel said, and part of his brain is exposed, making him more vulnerable to force applied to his head.

Defence counsel described interventions by members of the public who struck Bouchaker and brought him to the ground at the scene as "necessary and brave". However, he said the injuries Bouchaker suffered had led to an escalation of his cognitive impairment, impacting his memory, functioning and decision making.

Det Sgt Cleary agreed that Bouchaker has lived in Ireland for about 25 years and is an Irish citizen.

He has no previous convictions. Det Sgt Cleary also agreed that following an "enormously detailed investigation", gardaí are firmly of the view that no other person is suspected of any involvement, whether by way of support, encouragement or actual assistance of any kind.

Finnegan then read to the jury the statements of doctors at Crumlin Hospital who treated two of the children. Dr Laura Melody said she treated a little girl who it is alleged Bouchaker attempted to murder.

Dr Melody said the hospital's emergency department was on standby to receive children following reports of a "multiple stabbing incident".

She said medics noted the girl had a scalp wound but was sitting comfortably and was "bright and chatty". The injury to her scalp took the form of a large flap, about 8cm long. Doctors cleaned and dressed it and gave her antibiotics to prevent an infection.

A scan revealed no evidence of a penetrating wound and she was discharged from hospital.

Dr Michael Barrett treated a boy whom it is alleged Bouchaker attempted to murder. He had a laceration less than 1cm in length on his neck which was dressed and required no further interventions.

Bouchaker, of no fixed address, is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to 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 is continuing before Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.