11-year-old boy stabbed at St Finian's National School, Finglas
An 11-year-old boy was stabbed in the back by another child at St Finian's National School in Finglas, Dublin, in March 2025 and spent time in ICU at Temple Street Children's Hospital. The FAI invited him to join the men's team's training session and named him guest of honour for the Senegal match at the Aviva Stadium in June.
- Reported4 Mar
7 reports - Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Mar
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports66 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo children were involved in the incident and both attend the school. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe boy who was the victim was taken to hospital with injuries believed to be non-life threatening. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAn 11-year-old boy was stabbed in the back of the neck. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe incident involved two boys at the school. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth boys had been engaged in an ongoing argument before the knife was produced. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe boy suffered non-life threatening injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim has a punctured lung (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim is being treated in ICU (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim's condition is serious but non-life-threatening (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe attack is now thought to be random in nature with no prior row between the two children (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA pupil at a national school in north Dublin was stabbed by another pupil (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe school was sealed off and an investigation commenced (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was believed to be 11 years old (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe injured boy was expected to make a full recovery but had sustained a very serious injury (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy suspected of the attack had not previously come to the attention of the Garda (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí attended an incident at a primary school in north Dublin involving two children who both attend the school (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne male child was taken to a hospital in Dublin with injuries believed to be non-life threatening (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was stabbed in the back and the blade impacted one of his vital organs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe wound was very serious but not life-threatening or life-altering. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe wound was a stab to the middle of the back, a couple of centimetres from the main artery. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMason's younger brother was in the school yard and saw Mason with blood pouring from his back. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe other child involved is under 12 years of age. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMason spent time in ICU after the attack. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMason was gifted a jersey by Nathan Collins on behalf of the squad. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMason will be a guest of honour for the Senegal match at the Aviva Stadium in June. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe boy allegedly witnessed a murder after falling in with a violent drug dealing Dublin gang. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSpecial care involves deprivation of liberty. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy lives with an elderly relative who is unable to supervise him. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy was twice stopped in the company of a well-known criminal in his 40s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy's mother has addiction issues. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy was recently arrested in a stolen car travelling the wrong way on a motorway. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy witnessed a murder last November (November 2024). (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred at St Finian's National School in Finglas. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe injured boy was taken to a hospital in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe stabbing took place at a primary school in north Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMason was rushed to Temple Street Children's Hospital after the attack. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at around 10.30am on Tuesday morning, 4 March 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe surgery was expected to be performed on Tuesday evening (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack occurred just before 12pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe stabbing occurred earlier in March 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeOne line of inquiry is that the stabbing resulted from a relatively minor dispute or competitiveness between the children (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA knife that was brought to the school was used. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA knife was produced and the boy was stabbed in the back (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA knife, believed to be a large penknife or similar, was used (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA knife that appears to have been brought into the school was used. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí attended the incident at the primary school in North Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationAn Garda Síochána is liaising with school management and staff to identify the precise circumstances. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe suspected attacker was located by gardaí and will be spoken to by officers. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are in contact with the parents of both children. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí will not launch a criminal investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are in contact with the parents of both children and liaising with school management (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is focused on whether the knife was already in the school or brought onto the premises on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Headquarters is liaising with school management and staff to identify the precise circumstances. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe boy has been charged with theft and burglary. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe application was made on an ex-parte basis. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe boy has a court-imposed curfew as part of a deferred custodial sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere is no concern for public safety. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherLocal Finglas TD Dessie Ellis described the incident as a 'new low'. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBoth children are under the age of criminal responsibility (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe school is setting in place measures to help other children who witnessed the incident (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIn the Republic the age of criminal responsibility is 12 years (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspect, aged 11, cannot be arrested or charged because the age of criminal responsibility is 12. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspect had never come to the attention of the Garda before. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe school reopened earlier in the week. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Department of Education, the school, and Gardaí are working to ensure professional help is available for the children. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSimilar proceedings against Tusla were brought six months ago and settled earlier this month with Tusla agreeing to reconsider. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Mar2025Boy who witnessed murder and associating with drug gang needs special care, court hears
High Court hearing on the father's ex-parte application to challenge Tusla's 10 March decision deeming the boy ineligible for special care; Ms Justice Bolger granted leave to challenge.
victim, male - 19 Mar2025Child stabbed at Finglas school joins Ireland squad training session
Article focuses on the FAI invitation for the injured child to attend training; includes the father's comments on his son's critical condition and a legal note that children under 14 cannot be charged with a criminal offence.
victim, Mason, 11, maleMasonsuspect - 7 Mar2025Dad of boy stabbed at Dublin school thought he was 'saying goodbye' in hospital
Father Stephen Geraghty gives an emotional account of his son's critical condition; confirms the wound was to the middle of the back a couple of centimetres from the main artery; the other child is under 12 and cannot be charged under the Children's Act; Mason's younger brother witnessed the incident; the school has reopened.
victim, Mason, 11, male, irish (judged from name)Masonsuspect - 5 Mar2025Boy (11) undergoes surgery after being stabbed at Dublin primary school
Initial Gardaí report on the stabbing; no charges possible as the suspect is 11, below the age of criminal responsibility.
victim, 11, malesuspect, 11, male - 4 Mar2025Boy (11) to undergo surgery as gardaí investigate ‘highly unusual’ attack at north Dublin school
Adds detail on the severity of the wound (impacted a vital organ), the surgery at Temple Street Children's Hospital, the weapon (large penknife or similar), the NEPS involvement, the legal context of the age of criminal responsibility, and Gardaí's statement that there is no concern for public safety.
victim, 11, malesuspect, male - 4 Mar2025Child, 11, stabbed during incident in school admitted to intensive care
Confirms victim has a punctured lung and is in ICU (serious but non-life-threatening); attack now believed random with no prior row; Gardaí will not launch a criminal investigation as both children are under 14; identifies school as St Finian's National School, Finglas; TD Dessie Ellis describes incident as a 'new low'.
victim, 11, malesuspect - 4 Mar2025What we know so far as child stabbed at Dublin school
Adds that the boy was stabbed in the back of the neck, that a knife was brought to the school, that the two boys had been in an ongoing argument, that the suspected attacker was located by gardaí, and that no charges will be brought under Sections 52 and 53 of the Children's Act 2001 as both children are under 14.
victim, 11, malesuspect, male - 4 Mar2025Boy hospitalised following stabbing incident at north Dublin school
Confirms the boy was taken to a hospital in Dublin with non-life-threatening injuries, that both children attend the school, and that Gardaí are liaising with school management and staff to identify the precise circumstances. States there is no concern for public safety.
victim, malesuspect