November 23, 2023: An Garda Síochána and emergency services at the scene of the knife attack on Parnell Square East in Dublin.RollingNews.ie
Riad Bouchaker, 50, has been charged with eight offenses in connection with the serious incident that occurred at Parnell Square East in Dublin on Thursday, November 23.
Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, appeared before Dublin District Court today, Thursday, December 21.
He has been charged with the attempted murder of two female children and one male child.
He has also been charged with assault causing serious harm to a female childcare worker.
He was further charged with three counts of assault causing harm to the three children and was additionally charged with one count of possession or production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
Bouchaker had been hospitalized following the attack after sustaining injuries when several bystanders intervened and forced him to the ground.
He was taken into Garda custody after being discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
Bouchaker was questioned by detectives from Store Street Garda Station on Wednesday and was subsequently charged on Thursday following consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The PA reports that Detective Sergeant Padraig Cleary told the court that Bouchaker was arrested at 12:51 pm on Thursday and provided details of the charges and cautions.
According to The Irish Times, Bouchaker was cautioned, to which he replied: “I am a sick person.”
Bouchaker spoke only to the Arabic interpreter, according to the PA.
Bouchaker was remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison. He is due to appear again at Cloverhill District Court via videolink on December 28.
A list of medication was provided to the prison and Judge Brian Smyth ordered that Bouchaker receive any necessary medical attention.
Legal aid was also assigned.
Judge Smyth also agreed to the defendant's legal team's request not to be identified by the media.
Previously, An Garda Síochána said on November 23 that a serious assault occurred on Parnell Square East in Dublin's City Centre shortly after 1:30 pm that day.
The incident occurred near Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire.
Three children and a carer from the school, Leanne Flynn, were hospitalized after the attack; the six-year-old girl and the five-year-old boy have since been discharged.
On December 9, the family of the five-year-old girl who remains hospitalized said she is "still fighting" and that they hope to see her moved out of PICU soon.
Flynn, meanwhile, has reportedly been moved out of intensive care.
Several GoFundMe pages to support the victims and the responders were launched after the knife attack and the subsequent riot - nine have been verified by the crowdfunding platform.