Wednesday 28 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. 4056Attempted murder, assault · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023

Ruling on fitness to stand trial for Parnell Square attacker expected in February

Riad Bouchaker, 51, charged with the attempted murder of three children and assault of a care worker at Parnell Square in November 2023, is the subject of a fitness-to-stand-trial hearing at the Central Criminal Court where two psychiatrists gave conflicting evidence on his cognitive ability. Mr Justice Tony Hunt is expected to deliver his ruling on 20 February 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Jan
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
54 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBouchaker is charged with attempted murder of two girls and one boy (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatBouchaker is charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatBouchaker is charged with three counts of assault causing harm to two other young children and a passerby (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatBouchaker is charged with production of a knife (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBouchaker is charged with attempting to murder three children and assaulting a care worker on Parnell Square. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe prosecution psychiatrist said Bouchaker is fit to plead and stand trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBouchaker has a serious neurocognitive disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBouchaker is 51 and of no fixed abode. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDefence argued Bouchaker suffers from moderate dementia and is unfit to stand trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCCTV footage showed an attack on a line of children about to progress to their creche. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe creche manager suffered a stab wound when she moved to protect the children. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatFour children suffered stab wounds and one had life-altering injuries. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatBouchaker suffered a brain injury when members of the public intervened on the day of the offence. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatBouchaker had surgery for a benign brain tumour in 2021 and a bone flap was removed months later due to infection. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe defence psychiatrist said Bouchaker engaged in confabulation in all assessments. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe State psychiatrist found Bouchaker had a neurocognitive disorder affecting attention and concentration. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe State psychiatrist said Bouchaker understands the difference between guilty, not guilty, and not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBouchaker is charged with attempted murder of two girls and one boy, assault causing serious harm to a care worker, three counts of assault causing harm to two other young children and a passerby, and one count of production of a knife. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBouchaker is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square in Dublin (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe State's psychiatrist said Bouchaker is fit to plead and stand trial despite a serious neurocognitive disorder (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatBouchaker is 51 years old and of no fixed abode (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe defence argued Bouchaker suffers from moderate dementia and is unfit to stand trial (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at Parnell Square East, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences occurred on the afternoon of 23 November 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred at Parnell Square East on the afternoon of 23 November 2023. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeBouchaker is charged with one count of production of a knife (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is charged with three counts of assault causing harm to two other young children and a passerby. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is charged with one count of the production of a knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing is taking place at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Hunt directed that none of the medical witnesses or the legal team representing Bouchaker can be identified (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing took place at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to the following day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge ordered that legal representatives and doctors' identities not be named in media reports. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe fitness to stand trial hearing was held at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe judge ordered that legal representatives and the identities of the doctors giving evidence are not to be named in media reports (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to the following day for the State's psychiatrist to continue giving evidence (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Tony Hunt spent three days at the Central Criminal Court hearing evidence from two psychiatrists. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court will convene again on 3 February 2026 and judgment is expected on 20 February 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNo party is arguing for the defence of not guilty by reason of insanity (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution expert said Bouchaker is fit to plead, weigh his choices and stand trial, possibly with accommodations including a trained interpreter and simplified questions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBouchaker has an acquired brain injury secondary to neurosurgery in 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBouchaker suffered a head injury in the aftermath of the alleged offences in 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBouchaker has a neurocognitive disorder (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence expert said Bouchaker has moderate dementia and is unfit to plead, stand trial and weigh evidence (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAt the time of the alleged offences Bouchaker had mild cognitive impairment but now has moderate dementia (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBouchaker had brain surgery for a benign tumour in 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIf found unfit to stand trial, Bouchaker would be reviewed on a six-monthly basis by the mental health criminal law review board (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIt was agreed between the parties that no one is canvassing for the defence of not guilty by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe two psychiatrists differ on whether Bouchaker has the cognitive ability to instruct his legal team, enter a plea and engage in the trial process. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution psychiatrist said Bouchaker has a serious neurocognitive disorder but can be accommodated at trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution psychiatrist said Bouchaker understands he is charged with a serious offence, knows the difference between right and wrong, and is capable of entering a plea and instructing his solicitors. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBouchaker is of no fixed abode. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Ruling on whether alleged Parnell Square attacker fit to stand trial due next month

    Reports on the three-day fitness-to-stand-trial hearing at the Central Criminal Court where a prosecution psychiatrist said Bouchaker can be accommodated at trial despite a serious neurocognitive disorder, while a defence psychiatrist said he is 'utterly cognitively incapable' of understanding the plea choice. Judge Hunt will view garda interview videos and deliver judgment on 20 February 2026.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 51, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictimvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, male
  2. 20 Jan2026
    In courtdublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Alleged Parnell Square attacker fit to plead and stand trial, court hears

    State's forensic psychiatrist told the Central Criminal Court that Bouchaker is fit to plead and stand trial despite a serious neurocognitive disorder, while the defence psychiatrist maintained he suffers from moderate dementia and is unfit. The hearing was adjourned to the following day.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 51, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictimvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, male
  3. 19 Jan2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Alleged Parnell Square attacker fit to plead and stand trial, court told

    Fitness to stand trial hearing: prosecution psychiatrist testifies Bouchaker is fit; defence psychiatrist had said he is unfit due to moderate dementia. Hearing adjourned to the following day.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 51, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictimvictimvictim
  4. 19 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Psychiatrists clash over man’s fitness to be tried over attempted murder of three children

    Fitness to be tried hearing; prosecution and defence psychiatric experts gave conflicting opinions on Bouchaker's capacity to stand trial following a 2021 brain surgery and a head injury sustained during the 2023 incident.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictimvictimvictim