A man has been convicted of a series of brutal knife attacks that led to unrest in Dublin and caused a young girl to sustain a severe, lifelong brain injury. Riad Bouchaker, aged 52, was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for attempting to murder a five-year-old girl by stabbing her in the heart, as well as attempting to murder a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl.
The court heard that the five-year-old girl, now non-verbal and reliant on a wheelchair, suffered permanent damage and requires ongoing care. Bouchaker carried out the violent assault following a dispute over social welfare payments, arming himself with a large carving knife before targeting a group of primary school children in Parnell Square.
During the incident, Bouchaker stabbed the young girl in the chest, causing critical injuries, while also injuring a creche worker who intervened. Passers-by managed to subdue him, preventing further harm to the children. The attack resulted in the young girl sustaining brain damage, leaving her with long-term disabilities, while another girl suffered a serious head injury.
Following the violence, riots erupted in Dublin, involving fires, looting, and damage to public property. Bouchaker, an Algerian national who has resided in Ireland for 25 years and holds Irish citizenship, has faced legal proceedings despite his cognitive impairments. The court determined that he was fit to stand trial, although his cognitive limitations were acknowledged.
Bouchaker’s sentencing is scheduled for October 12th, with victim impact statements to be presented in court. The trial, where testimonies from the victims and witnesses were crucial, lasted over three weeks. The defendant denied the charges but was unanimously convicted by the jury on all counts after a thorough deliberation process.