Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8937Attempted murder and assault · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023

Girl left with life-long disability after Parnell Square stabbing, trial hears

Riad Bouchaker, a 52-year-old Algerian man, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with attempted murder and assault over a stabbing outside a school on Parnell Square East, Dublin, on 23 November 2023. The victims include a five-year-old girl, who has been left with a life-long, life-limiting disability, and childcare worker Leanne Flynn, who was stabbed. Gardaí arrested Bouchaker on 20 December 2023 and interviewed him that day. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the prosecution evidence closed on 25 June 2026, with closing stages expected to begin the following week.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Jun
    10 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A five-year-old girl was left with a life-long, life-limiting severe disability after a severe acquired brain injury.
  • Childcare worker Leanne Flynn was stabbed in the lower back and her spleen was removed.
Where
The incident happened outside a school on Parnell Square East in Dublin.
When
The incident took place on 23 November 2023.
Weapon
The weapon was a 36cm kitchen knife with a 24cm blade.
Investigation
  • Forensic analysis found DNA matching Leanne Flynn and two injured girls on the knife blade, and Bouchaker's DNA on the knife handle.
  • Blood on a black jacket belonging to Bouchaker matched his DNA.
  • Bouchaker was arrested on 20 December 2023; one source places the arrest at the Mater Hospital and another at Mountjoy Garda Station.
  • Detective Sergeant Padraig Cleary applied to hold Bouchaker in custody under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and he was interviewed by gardaí with a solicitor and interpreter present.
Other details
In interview, Bouchaker said what happened was a mistake and that he did not want to kill.
Charges
  • Bouchaker is charged with attempting to murder three small children, assault causing serious harm to Leanne Flynn, and assault causing harm to two children and a male French national.
  • Bouchaker is also charged with producing or possessing a 36cm kitchen knife in a manner likely to intimidate, which he denies.
In court
  • Bouchaker is on trial at the Central Criminal Court and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
  • The prosecution evidence closed on 25 June 2026, and closing stages may begin the following week.
Sentence
No verdict or sentence has been reported.
104 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused's DNA was found on the handle of a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
  • whatThe girl was left with a severe disability. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe girl suffered a severe acquired brain injury after being deprived of oxygen. (rte.ie)
  • whatLeanne Flynn received a major stab wound to her lower back. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened on Parnell Square in Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened on Parnell Square in Dublin in November 2023. (rte.ie)
  • whereDoctors at the Mater Hospital deemed Bouchaker medically fit to be discharged. (rte.ie)
  • whereBouchaker was taken from Parnell Square East on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe alleged attempted murder took place outside a school on Parnell Square East. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe interview was recorded at Mountjoy Garda station. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offence was outside a school on Parnell Square East. (gript.ie)
  • whereBouchaker was asked about going to his room at the De Paul hostel on Little Britian Street. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offence happened outside a school on Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe attack happened outside a school on Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe stabbing took place outside a school on Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe stabbing happened on Parnell Square in Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened in November 2023, with a school call received on 23 November 2023. (rte.ie)
  • whenA number of weeks had passed between the incident on Parnell Square East and the arrest. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offence took place on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe interview began at 11:11 am on 20 December 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe interview was recorded on 20 December 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whenBouchaker was interviewed by Gardaí at Mountjoy station 12 hours into his detention on 20 December 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe knife attack happened on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe stabbing took place on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe attack happened on 23 November 2023. (rte.ie)
  • weaponThe attacker took out a knife and repeatedly stabbed a little girl. (rte.ie)
  • weaponBouchaker said he liked the knife and wanted to take it to Algeria. (gript.ie)
  • weaponBouchaker said he had the knife in his trousers. (gript.ie)
  • weaponThe accused is charged with production of a 36 cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
  • weaponThe accused is charged with possession of a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon was a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
  • weaponThe knife used was 36 centimetres long with a 24cm blade. (rte.ie)
  • investigationBouchaker was arrested at Mountjoy Garda Station on 20 December 2023. (rte.ie)
  • investigationBouchaker was interviewed by gardaí with his solicitor present and with a translator. (rte.ie)
  • investigationBouchaker was interviewed seven times. (rte.ie)
  • investigationBouchaker was arrested on 20 December 2023 at the Mater Hospital. (gript.ie)
  • investigationAfter his arrest, Bouchaker was taken to Mountjoy Garda Station by Detective Sergeant Padraig Cleary. (gript.ie)
  • investigationDetective Sergeant Padraig Cleary applied for Bouchaker to be held in custody under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (gript.ie)
  • investigationA French-Arabic interpreter was available to Bouchaker throughout his detention in Mountjoy station. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe video played to the jury is an interview with Bouchaker starting at 11:11 am on 20 December with Detective Garda Gary Moran and Detective Garda Kevin Bambrick. (gript.ie)
  • investigationIn the video, after being cautioned and told of his rights, Bouchaker responded through the interpreter, “Do not say anything, do not hear anything, do what they tell you to do.” (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda interview was conducted at Mountjoy Garda station by Detective Gardaí Gary Moran and Kevin Bambrick. (gript.ie)
  • investigationDetective Garda Conor Mackey questioned the accused during the interview. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí asked Bouchaker why he moved all his possessions from the hostel to the mosque. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe jury has viewed footage of a Garda interview with the accused from 21 December 2023. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe jury watched a video of a Garda interview with the accused dated 21 December 2023. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized the knife from the area. (gript.ie)
  • investigationForensic analysis found DNA matching Leanne Flynn and two injured girls on the knife blade. (rte.ie)
  • investigationRiad Bouchaker's DNA was found on the knife handle. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBouchaker is charged with attempting to murder three children at Parnell Square. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBouchaker is also charged with assaulting a childcare worker, causing her serious harm. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBouchaker is charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager who intervened. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBouchaker is charged with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate another person. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBouchaker is accused of attempted murder of three children. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBouchaker has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charges and to assaulting four others. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBouchaker has denied possession of a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (rte.ie)
  • chargeRiad Bouchaker is accused of the attempted murder of three small children. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is accused of attempted murder in respect of three small children. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with the attempted murder of three small children. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is also charged with three counts of assault causing harm. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with one count of assault causing serious harm. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with three counts of attempted murder of three small children. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with assault causing serious harm to Ms Flynn. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with assault causing harm to two small children. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with assault causing harm to a male French national. (gript.ie)
  • chargeRiad Bouchaker denies attempting to murder the girl and two other children. (rte.ie)
  • chargeRiad Bouchaker denies assaulting Leanne Flynn, two other children and a teenager who intervened. (rte.ie)
  • courtBouchaker is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtBouchaker has pleaded not guilty to all charges. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury at the trial has been watching a video of the December 2023 interview. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury will watch the second garda interview the following day. (rte.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Tony Hunt told the jury they were not required to take notes and that a memorandum of the interview would be made available. (gript.ie)
  • courtProsecuting counsel Carl Finnegan said Sergeant Cleary would have gone through the gathered evidence at length when applying for the detention. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues with the accused denying all charges. (gript.ie)
  • courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court has finished viewing a video of the Garda interview with Bouchaker. (gript.ie)
  • courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court has seen a second hour-long interview with the accused. (gript.ie)
  • courtProsecutor Carol Doherty BL read from a Memorandum of Interview in which Bouchaker was asked about leaving the suitcase at the mosque. (gript.ie)
  • courtA jury is presiding over the trial. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution team was expected to conclude its evidence on the day of the report. (gript.ie)
  • courtDr Yvonne O'Dowd of Forensic Science Ireland gave evidence to a jury at the Central Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe trial is continuing. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution evidence has finished. (rte.ie)
  • courtClosing stages of the trial may begin the following week. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe childcare worker was stabbed in the back during the struggle. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe five-year-old girl was without oxygen for about 40 minutes, causing severe brain damage. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe childcare worker had a collapsed lung and her spleen was removed. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe defence put it to the childcare worker that Bouchaker has a brain injury going back some years. (rte.ie)
  • otherBouchaker said what happened was a mistake. (rte.ie)
  • otherBouchaker said he did not want to kill. (rte.ie)
  • otherBouchaker was discharged from the Mater Hospital before the interview. (gript.ie)
  • otherBouchaker said he took his suitcase to a place where people pray. (gript.ie)
  • otherBouchaker said he was glad there were no fatalities. (gript.ie)
  • otherBouchaker said he never had intentions to hurt anyone. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe accused denies all charges. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe accused is Algerian. (gript.ie)
  • otherLeanne Flynn was stabbed during the incident and her spleen was removed. (gript.ie)
  • otherLeanne Flynn was minding the children when the attack took place. (gript.ie)
  • otherLeanne Flynn has not been able to return to work since the incident. (gript.ie)
  • otherOne child, a five-year-old girl, has life-changing injuries. (gript.ie)
  • otherA five-year-old girl suffered life-changing injuries. (gript.ie)
  • otherBlood on the blade matched the DNA profile of the most seriously wounded child. (gript.ie)
  • otherBlood on a black jacket belonging to the accused matched his DNA. (gript.ie)
  • otherA female child received a wound to her scalp. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Jun2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Girl left with 'life-long' disability after Dublin attack

    Trial report: the prosecution evidence has closed. Medical evidence describes the girl's brain injury and disability, Ms Flynn's stab wound and spleen removal, and DNA findings on the knife.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, namedRiad Bouchakervictim, 5, femalevictim, Leanne Flynn, female, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictimvictimvictim, Alan Lorena-Guille, maleAlan Lorena-Guille
  2. 25 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    Little girl's blood found on knife, court hears - Gript

    Trial evidence from Forensic Science Ireland linking the accused to the knife and to blood on his clothing, with a five-year-old girl among those injured. The trial continues.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, namedRiad Bouchakervictim, 5, femalevictim, female
  3. 25 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    Detective Garda to Bouchaker: "You can thank Leanne" - Gript

    Court report on the trial: jury watched Garda interview video, details of injuries to Leanne Flynn and the children, charges, and that the prosecution evidence was expected to conclude.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, male, Algerian, named, non-irishRiad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, female, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, 5, femalevictimvictimvictim, male, French, non-irish
  4. 24 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    Garda believes Bouchaker selected "smallest children" - Gript

    Reports that the jury has viewed footage of a Garda interview with the accused from 21 December 2023. The accused denies all charges, which include three counts of assault causing harm, one count of assault causing serious harm, and one count of production of a 36 cm kitchen knife.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim
  5. 23 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    “I like the knife, and I wanted to take it to Algeria" - Gript

    Gript reports testimony from the trial of Riad Bouchaker, including Garda interview extracts and his explanations about the knife, the suitcase and his welfare allowance dispute. The article does not state the charges, the incident date, or a verdict.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, male, namedRiad Bouchaker
  6. 23 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, follow-up
    Bouchaker trial: "I did not want to harm the children" - Gript

    Trial coverage from the Central Criminal Court: a second hour-long interview with the accused, recorded on 20 December 2023, has been shown to the jury.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, namedRiad Bouchaker
  7. 22 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, follow-up
    Garda interview with Riad Bouchaker: "I am sick" - Gript

    Reports that the jury has finished viewing the video of Bouchaker's Garda interview, which took place on 20 December 2023 after he was discharged from the Mater Hospital.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, namedRiad Bouchakervictimvictimvictim
  8. 22 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    Jury views video of Bouchaker Garda interview - Gript

    Trial report covering the jury viewing a Garda interview video and evidence of the arrest and detention. The charges are not named in the article.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchaker
  9. 22 Jun2026
    In courtrte.ie, follow-up
    Jury in Riad Bouchaker trial shown garda interview video

    Trial report: the jury has watched a video of Bouchaker's first garda interview, conducted on 20 December 2023, in which he said what happened was a mistake.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, namedRiad Bouchaker
  10. 20 Jun2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Parnell Square: The Riad Bouchaker trial so far

    Trial report summarising evidence from witnesses heard so far at the Central Criminal Court. Accused has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, namedRiad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, female, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, 5, femalevictim, 6, female