Man on trial over Parnell Square stabbing, Dublin
A five-year-old French girl was seriously injured in a stabbing on 23 November 2023 near her school on Parnell Square, Dublin 1, and several other children and a female minder were also hurt. Riad Bouchakar, an Algerian man aged 51 (reports differ: 52), was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of two female children and a male child, among other offences. The case has been delayed several times at the Central Criminal Court, partly because of difficulties completing a psychiatric report on the accused. As of June 2025, the report is complete and the case is set for mention on 23 July, with Bouchakar held at the Central Mental Hospital awaiting trial.
- Reported31 Jan
2 reports - Arrested22 Nov
- Charged29 Dec
3 reports - In court21 Dec
5 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A five-year-old girl was seriously injured in a stabbing, and several other children and a female minder were also injured in the attack.
- Where
- The stabbing took place near Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
- When
- The stabbing took place on 23 November 2023.
- Weapon
- The charges include production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
- Investigation
- A man was arrested in connection with the attack.
- Charges
- Riad Bouchakar, an Algerian man aged 51 (reports differ: 52), is charged with the attempted murder of two female children and a male child, assault causing harm to a male and a female child, causing serious harm to a care worker, and assault causing harm to a French national.
- In court
- The case is before the Central Criminal Court and has been delayed several times, partly due to difficulties completing a psychiatric report on the accused.
- As of June 2025, the psychiatric report is complete, the case is set for mention on 23 July, and Bouchakar is held at the Central Mental Hospital awaiting trial.
- Other details
- The girl was discharged from hospital in September 2024 and is now living with an acquired brain injury.
- A GoFundMe page set up following the incident raised over €115,000.
124 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA girl aged 5 was stabbed. (extra.ie)
- whatA girl was stabbed. (extra.ie)
- whatA girl, 5, was stabbed in an attack at Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whatJoe Brolly plans to visit a five-year-old girl who was stabbed. (extra.ie)
- whatA girl was left in a critical condition after an attack. (extra.ie)
- whatA little girl was one of three children and a care worker stabbed outside a school in Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
- whatThe headline describes a five-year-old stabbing victim who must re-learn everything. (extra.ie)
- whatA five-year-old girl was seriously injured in a stabbing. (extra.ie)
- whatA five-year-old girl was seriously injured in a stabbing attack. (gript.ie)
- whatA little girl was stabbed. (extra.ie)
- whatA girl was seriously injured in a stabbing on Parnell Square, Dublin 1 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl was aged five at the time of the stabbing (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl was left in critical condition following the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl was discharged from hospital in September 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl is now living with an acquired brain injury (irishtimes.com)
- whatSeveral other children were injured in the attack (irishtimes.com)
- whatA female minder was injured in the attack (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl cannot move or communicate as she used to (irishtimes.com)
- whatA five-year-old girl was seriously injured in a stabbing attack on Parnell Square. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSeveral other children and a female minder were also injured in the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA five-year-old girl was stabbed near her school on Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
- whatThe headline refers to a stabbing at Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whereThe attack happened outside a Dublin city school. (gript.ie)
- whereThe stabbing was in the Parnell Square incident in Dublin. (extra.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whereThe attack took place outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire. (gript.ie)
- whereThe stabbing took place in Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whereThe attack took place in Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whereThe stabbing happened outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire in Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
- whereThe headline places the stabbing on Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whereThe case concerns a stabbing at Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whereThe incident took place outside Colaiste Mhuire on Parnell Street. (gript.ie)
- whereThe incident took place close to the girl's school in Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe stabbing took place close to the girl's school, Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire, on Parnell Square East, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack took place near the girl's school on Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
- whereThe case was mentioned before the Central Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
- whereThe charges relate to the Parnell St. school stabbing. (gript.ie)
- whereThe stabbing took place outside Scoil Mhuire in the Parnell Square area. (gript.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
- whenThe stabbing happened in November. (gript.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 23 November. (gript.ie)
- whenThe stabbing took place on 23 November 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe stabbing attack occurred on 23 November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
- whenThe family update says the Saturday after publication marks one year since the incident. (gript.ie)
- whenThe incident took place in November 2023. (gript.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
- weaponBouchaker was charged with production of a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
- weaponThe accused was charged with producing a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
- weaponThe accused is charged with production of a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
- weaponThe charges include production of a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
- investigationThe case involves more than 200 statements. (extra.ie)
- investigationA man was arrested in connection with the attack (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBrain scans and old medical records have been requested for the report. (gript.ie)
- chargeBouchaker was charged with the attempted murder of a male child. (gript.ie)
- chargeBouchaker was charged with attempting to murder two female children. (gript.ie)
- chargeBouchaker was charged with causing serious harm to a care worker. (gript.ie)
- chargeBouchaker was charged with assault causing harm to a male child and a girl. (gript.ie)
- chargeBouchaker was charged with assault causing harm to a French national. (gript.ie)
- chargeBouchaker faces eight charges in relation to the incident. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused was charged with attempted murder of a male child, attempting to murder two female children, and causing serious harm to a care worker. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused was also charged with assault causing harm to another male child and a girl. (gript.ie)
- chargeRashid Bouchakar has been charged in relation to the incident and remains in custody. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with attempted murder of a male child, two counts of attempting to murder two female children, and causing serious harm to a care worker. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is also charged with assault causing harm to another male child and a girl. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is also charged with assault causing harm to a French national. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with the attempted murder of two female children. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is also charged with the attempted murder of a male child. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with assault causing harm to a male and a female child. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with causing serious harm to a care worker. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with assault causing harm to a French national. (gript.ie)
- courtBouchaker was brought before Dublin District Court to face eight charges. (gript.ie)
- courtThe eight charges were read before Judge Bryan Smyth. (gript.ie)
- courtBouchaker listened to proceedings with the help of an Arabic interpreter. (gript.ie)
- courtRiad Bouchaker was brought before Dublin District Court on December 21st. (gript.ie)
- courtBouchaker said 'I am a sick man' during the reading of the charges. (gript.ie)
- courtThe accused was brought before Dublin District Court on December 21st to face eight charges. (gript.ie)
- courtThe case was heard before Judge Bryan Smyth. (gript.ie)
- courtThe accused followed the proceedings with the help of an Arabic interpreter. (gript.ie)
- courtRiad Bouchakar remains in custody awaiting trial as the sole suspect. (gript.ie)
- courtThe case last came before the courts on 30 April. (gript.ie)
- courtThe case was delayed again because the defence psychiatrist is preparing a psychiatric report. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge asked whether the psychiatric report would form part of the defence. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge said the case cannot be delayed and should be prepared as a matter of priority. (gript.ie)
- courtThe case was put back for mention on 25 June, with the completed report expected that date. (gript.ie)
- courtThe trial date has been delayed several times, partly because of difficulties completing a psychiatric report on the accused. (gript.ie)
- courtA psychiatric report on the accused is now complete and was submitted to the defence the previous evening. (gript.ie)
- courtThe report is to be sent to the prosecution for examination. (gript.ie)
- courtThe DPP asked for time for the report to be examined. (gript.ie)
- courtThe case was put in for mention again on 23 July. (gript.ie)
- otherA five-year-old girl and a female child care worker were seriously injured. (gript.ie)
- otherTwo other children were also injured in the attack. (gript.ie)
- otherBouchaker reportedly said 'I am a sick man' during the reading of the charges. (gript.ie)
- otherThe girl has been moved from intensive care. (extra.ie)
- otherThe girl is improving. (extra.ie)
- otherBrazilian man Caio Benecio expressed delight about the girl's improvement. (extra.ie)
- otherThe girl is now out of danger. (extra.ie)
- otherThe five-year-old girl is out of danger, according to her mother. (gript.ie)
- otherThe girl has been out of the PICU for two weeks. (gript.ie)
- otherTwo other children were injured in the attack and were later released from hospital. (gript.ie)
- otherThe girl's recovery is described as a miracle. (extra.ie)
- otherThe girl will have to relearn everything. (extra.ie)
- otherThe girl's mother said her daughter has entered the third phase of her recovery. (gript.ie)
- otherThe girl will have to relearn everything as a result of her injury. (gript.ie)
- otherA GoFundMe page has raised some €60,000 for the costs of the girl's recovery. (gript.ie)
- otherThe accused said during the reading of the charges that he was a sick man. (gript.ie)
- otherThe accused had come to Garda attention several times the previous year, including for possession of a knife last May, but escaped conviction due to a mental health report. (gript.ie)
- otherThe case is described as complex. (extra.ie)
- otherThe girl was readmitted to ICU after a setback. (extra.ie)
- otherThe girl has been returned to intensive care after a setback. (gript.ie)
- otherThe family has issued an update ahead of the anniversary. (extra.ie)
- otherA Gofundme page set up following the incident raised over €115,000 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe family set up a GoFundMe page which has raised over €115,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe girl is non-verbal but communicating through a computer. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe girl cannot move or communicate as she used to and has extreme limitations. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe family says they are on the home stretch for getting the girl home. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe update was posted to a GoFundMe page run to support the girl and her family. (gript.ie)
- otherThe family says the girl is on the home stretch for home. (gript.ie)
- otherA school says trauma from the stabbing is still very real for many children. (extra.ie)
- otherCounsel said the report could take another three weeks to finalise. (gript.ie)
- otherCounsel described the report as a forensically difficult task. (gript.ie)
- otherThe injured party is very young. (gript.ie)
- otherCounsel said it was quite likely the report would form part of the defence but that this was unclear, as fitness is being looked at in a focused way. (gript.ie)
- otherThe accused is being held in the Central Mental Hospital. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Jun2025Psychiatric report on school stabbing suspect complete - Gript
Court update on the trial preparation: psychiatric report complete, sent to the prosecution for examination, accused held at the Central Mental Hospital, and case put in for mention on 23 July.
accused, Riad Bouchakar, 52, namedRiad Bouchakarvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictimvictim, French, non-irish - 28 May2025Further delays to Parnell school stabbing case - Gript
Adds that the case was mentioned again at the Central Criminal Court, the defence psychiatric report caused a further delay, and the case was put back to 25 June with the report expected then.
accused, Riad Bouchakar, 51, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakarvictim - 23 Nov2024Parnell Square stabbing: Trauma 'still very real' for many children, school says
Only the headline is usable; the body is template code. No matching existing case was found for a Parnell Square stabbing.
- 22 Nov2024Little girl injured in Parnell Sq. school stabbing is “on the home stretch for home” - Gript
Family update one year after the attack. Says the girl is recovering and that the suspect, Riad Bouchakar, remains in custody awaiting trial. Gives the victim's age as five and the suspect's nationality as Algerian.
victim, 5, femaleaccused, Riad Bouchakar, Algerian, named, non-irishRiad Bouchakar - 22 Nov2024Family of girl stabbed in Parnell Square attack give update ahead of anniversary
Family update one year after the Parnell Square stabbing; GoFundMe raised over €115,000; girl is non-verbal but communicating through a computer; family on the 'home stretch for home'.
victim, 5, femalesuspect, male - 22 Nov2024Girl seriously injured in Parnell Square stabbing has made great progress, parents say
One-year follow-up on the victim's recovery; parents share updates on a Gofundme page that raised over €115,000. The girl is living with an acquired brain injury and cannot move or communicate as before.
victim, 6, femalesuspect, malevictim, female - 22 Nov2024Family of little girl stabbed in Parnell Square issue update ahead of anniversary
Article body is missing; only the title and a template fragment were provided. The title gives the family update ahead of the anniversary of the stabbing.
victim, female - 31 Jan2024Girl (5) wounded in Dublin school stabbing back in intensive care - Gript
Reports a setback in the injured girl's condition and lists the charges against the accused, including attempted murder and assault on several children, a care worker and a French national.
accused, Rashid Bouchakar, 50, Algerian, named, non-irishRashid Bouchakarvictim, 5, femalevictim, malevictim, femalevictimvictim, French, non-irish - 31 Jan2024Five-year-old girl seriously injured in Parnell Square stabbing readmitted to ICU after 'setback'
Only the headline is available; the article body is empty. The headline reports the girl's serious injuries, the Parnell Square location and a readmission to ICU after a setback.
victim, 5, female - 25 Jan2024Over 200 statements in Parnell Square stabbing accused’s 'complex' case
Headline only: the case involves over 200 statements and is described as complex. The article body is an unrendered page template, so it gives no date, name or further details.
accused - 8 Jan2024Five-year-old Parnell Square stabbing victim must ‘re-learn everything’
Only the headline is present. It describes the recovery of the five-year-old stabbing victim and gives no new details about the accused, court or charges.
victim, 5 - 7 Jan2024Little girl attacked in Parnell Sq must "relearn everything as result of injury" - Gript
Follow-up on the Parnell Square stabbing: the girl's recovery update from her mother and the accused's charges. The article names the accused as Riad Bouchaker, while case 18437 names Rashid Bouchakar. The article gives only 'November' as the month of the attack, so no exact date is recorded.
- 6 Jan2024Girl Who Was Left Critical After Parnell Square Attack Will ‘Have To Relearn Everything’
The article body contains only page template code, so the only details come from the headline. The headline links the case to the girl injured in the Parnell Square attack, which matches existing case 18437.
victim, female - 6 Jan2024Joe Brolly plans to visit five-year-old girl stabbed in Parnell Square later in 'miracle' recovery
The article body contains only template markup, so the details come from the headline. It reports that Joe Brolly plans to visit the girl later in her recovery.
victim, 5, female - 29 Dec2023Little "angel" stabbed in Parnell Sq attack "out of danger", mother says - Gript
Adds the girl's improved condition, out of the PICU for two weeks, and the court appearance of Riad Bouchaker on eight charges, including attempted murder, assault causing harm and production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 50, male, Algerian, named, non-irishRiad Bouchakervictim, 5, femalevictim, femalevictim - 29 Dec2023Girl, 5, Stabbed In Parnell Square Attack 'Now Out Of Danger'
Follow-up headline reporting that the girl stabbed at Parnell Square is now out of danger. The article text is otherwise only page template markup, so no other details are given.
victim, 5, female - 24 Dec2023Exclusive: Brazilian Hero Caio Benecio Expresses Delight As Stabbed Girl Improves
The article text is missing; only the headline is usable. It reports that the stabbed girl is improving and gives Caio Benecio's reaction. It adds no details on location, suspect or charges.
victim, female - 23 Dec2023Girl, 5, Stabbed In Parnell Square Incident Moved From Intensive Care
The article body is missing (only template code appears), so the only usable content is the headline. It adds that the girl has been moved from intensive care, and it gives no incident date, suspect or other details.
victim, 5, female - 21 Dec2023Suspect in Parnell Sq. school stabbing appears before courts - Gript
Reports Bouchaker's first court appearance on eight charges at Dublin District Court on 21 December 2023, before Judge Bryan Smyth, with an Arabic interpreter. Lists the charges, including attempted murder of a male child, two counts of attempting to murder two girls, causing serious harm to a care worker, assault causing harm, and production of a 36cm kitchen knife. Reports that Bouchaker said 'I am a sick man'.