Ireland Case No. 8777Assault · Co. Dublin
Mother of girl injured in Parnell Square attack speaks out
On 23 November 2023 Riad Bouchaker, a 52-year-old Irish man, attacked children and adults with a knife on Parnell Square East in Dublin city centre, near Parnell Primary School. A girl was stabbed in the chest and left with a life-altering disability, and childcare worker Leanne Flynn and a teenager were among those injured. Bouchaker was charged in 2023 and held in Cloverhill prison. On 1 July 2026 a jury at the Central Criminal Court found him guilty on all eight counts, and sentencing was adjourned to 12 October 2026, with him remanded in custody.
- Reported2 Jul
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Jun
- Convicted1 Jul
5 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Riad Bouchaker, a 52-year-old Irish man, attacked children and adults with a knife on Parnell Square, Dublin.
- The knife attack lasted about 15 seconds.
- When
- The attack took place on 23 November 2023.
- Where
- The attack took place outside a school on Parnell Square East in Dublin city centre, linked to Parnell Primary School.
- Cause
- Bouchaker was reportedly upset after failing to secure social welfare payments.
- Weapon
- Bouchaker armed himself with a 36cm carving knife before walking to Parnell Square; he was charged with production of a 36cm kitchen knife, and sources differ on the description.
- Other details
- He waited in the area for about one hour before the children were lined up.
- A girl was stabbed in the chest, suffered brain damage from blood loss, has a life-altering disability and will require lifelong care; her mother said she is not angry towards Bouchaker.
- Childcare worker Leanne Flynn put herself between the knife and the children and was found to have suffered serious harm.
- A French man named as Alan Lorena Guille, also given as Alan Loren-Guille and aged 17, was injured when he grabbed the knife; sources differ on whether he took the knife from Bouchaker's hand.
- Passersby intervened and knocked or dragged Bouchaker to the ground.
- The defence argued his actions did not reach the level of intent needed for attempted murder and did not give evidence, while the prosecution called the defence absurd and said the insanity defence was not available.
- Charges
- Bouchaker was charged with attempted murder of three small children and with assault causing serious harm to their carer and assault causing harm to other children and a young man.
- Bouchaker pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied attempting to murder three children.
- In court
- On 1 July 2026 a jury of nine men and three women at the Central Criminal Court found Bouchaker guilty on all eight counts after deliberating for under five hours over two days; the judge said the verdict was in line with the evidence.
- Sentence
- Attempted murder and causing serious harm carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; sentencing was adjourned to 12 October 2026, with Bouchaker remanded in custody.
55 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe attack with a knife lasted just 15 seconds. (rte.ie)
- whatRiad Bouchaker was found guilty on all eight counts against him. (thejournal.ie)
- whatRiad Bouchaker was found guilty by a jury of attempted murder of three children. (thejournal.ie)
- whatBouchaker was also found guilty of causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn and assault causing harm to two other children and a teenager. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe charge was attempted murder of three children. (extra.ie)
- whatA girl was injured in an attack at Parnell Square. (extra.ie)
- whereThe attack took place on Parnell Square in Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Parnell Square. (thejournal.ie)
- whereBouchaker went to his hostel on Little Britain Street in Dublin city centre. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe attack happened at Parnell Square East in Dublin City. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe stabbing incident took place outside a school on Parnell Square, Dublin. (gript.ie)
- whereThe attack was linked to Parnell Primary School. (gript.ie)
- whereThe case is linked to a Dublin stabbing trial. (gript.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on 23 November 2023. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whenThe attack took place in November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
- causeBouchaker was upset after failing to secure social welfare payments. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe accused obtained a 36 centimetre carving knife. (rte.ie)
- weaponHe armed himself with a 36cm carving knife. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponBouchaker armed himself with a 36cm carving knife before walking to Parnell Square. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponHe was charged with production of a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
- chargeMr Bouchaker denies attempting to murder three children and assaulting four other people. (rte.ie)
- chargeBouchaker was found guilty of the attempted murder of three children. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe was found guilty of causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe was found guilty of assault causing harm to two other children and a teenager. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker was charged with attempted murder of three small children. (gript.ie)
- chargeHe was also charged with assault causing serious harm to their carer and assault causing harm to two other young children and a young French man. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe charges include three charges of attempting to murder three small children. (gript.ie)
- courtClosing speeches in the trial have finished. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge has begun his charge to the jury. (rte.ie)
- courtThe defence will not give evidence. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury of nine men and three women began deliberations on Tuesday at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for under five hours over two days and its verdicts were unanimous. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge will hear submissions at a sentencing hearing on 12 October. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court found Riad Bouchaker guilty on all eight counts. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge said the verdict was entirely in line with the evidence. (gript.ie)
- courtRiad Bouchaker was found guilty. (extra.ie)
- courtA jury returned a guilty verdict on all charges in the Riad Bouchaker trial. (gript.ie)
- sentenceThe charges of attempted murder and causing serious harm carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSentencing was adjourned to 12 October, with the accused remanded in custody. (gript.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said the defence was absurd and a lame excuse. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence argued the accused's actions did not reach the level of intent needed for attempted murder. (rte.ie)
- otherThe jury could return lesser verdicts of assault causing serious harm or causing harm. (rte.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said the insanity defence was not available to the accused. (rte.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said childcare worker Leanne Flynn put herself between the knife and the children. (rte.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said the French man Alan Lorena Guille was injured when he grabbed the knife. (rte.ie)
- otherHe waited in the area for about one hour before the children were lined up. (thejournal.ie)
- otherPassersby intervened and knocked or dragged Bouchaker to the ground. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBouchaker had pleaded not guilty to all charges. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe girl was stabbed by Bouchaker and has been left with a life-altering disability. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe girl's mother said she is not angry towards Bouchaker. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe little girl who was stabbed in the chest suffered brain damage due to blood loss and will require lifelong care. (thejournal.ie)
- otherAlan Loren-Guille took the knife from Bouchaker's hand. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBouchaker has been in Cloverhill prison since he was charged in 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused maintained his innocence throughout the trial. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Jul2026Mother of girl injured in Parnell Square attack speaks out
The article body is an unrendered search template. Only the headline and publication date are available. No existing case matches this Parnell Square attack.
victim, female - 1 Jul2026Parnell Primary School Attacker guilty of attempted murder - Gript
Reports the jury's guilty verdict on all charges in the Riad Bouchaker trial, including three charges of attempting to murder three small children.
- 1 Jul2026Riad Bouchaker found guilty of attempted murder of three children in Dublin
Reports a guilty verdict for attempted murder of three children in Dublin. The page has no body text, so no date, details of the incident or sentence are given.
- 1 Jul2026Bouchaker guilty on all counts - Gript
Reports the jury verdict of guilty on all eight counts at the Central Criminal Court. Sentencing is adjourned to 12 October, and the accused remains in custody. The accused maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
convicted, Riad Bouchaker, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchaker - 1 Jul2026Riad Bouchaker found guilty of attempted murder of three children in Parnell Square attack
Reports the jury verdict after a three-week trial, the verdict-related details, and that sentencing is set for 12 October; adds the victims' injuries and the defendant's Cloverhill custody.
convicted, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, Irish, named, irishRiad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, female, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, Alan Loren-Guille, 17, male, non-irish (judged from name)Alan Loren-Guille - 1 Jul2026Mother of girl critically injured in Parnell Square attack doesn't hold anger towards Bouchaker
Reports the jury verdict on all eight counts and the reaction of the mother of the critically injured girl, who said she is not angry towards Bouchaker.
convicted, Riad Bouchaker, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, 5, femalevictim, Leanne Flynn, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynn - 29 Jun2026Man's defence over Parnell Street attack 'absurd' - court
Reports the closing speeches at the trial of Riad Bouchaker, the defence not giving evidence, and the start of the judge's charge to the jury.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, Alan Lorena Guille, male, French, non-irishAlan Lorena Guillevictim, Leanne Flynn, female, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynn