Ireland Case No. 9275Attempted murder · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023
Trial of Riad Bouchaker over Parnell Square East attacks, Dublin
On 23 November 2023, at about 1.30pm, a man is alleged to have carried out a knife attack on children and a crèche worker at Parnell Square East in Dublin City. The accused is Riad Bouchaker, a 52-year-old man of no fixed address, and the victims include a five-year-old girl who was stabbed in the heart and a crèche worker, Leanne Flynn. Gardaí arrested Bouchaker on suspicion of attempted murder at the Mater Hospital on 20 December 2023, and he was later charged with attempted murder and assault causing serious harm. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury at the Central Criminal Court is ongoing, with no verdict reported.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Jun
11 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Riad Bouchaker, a 52-year-old man of no fixed address, is on trial over alleged knife attacks at Parnell Square East.
- Six people were injured, including a five-year-old girl stabbed in the chest who had no pulse when doctors reached her, and crèche worker Leanne Flynn, who suffered a stab wound to her lower back.
- One girl suffered severe brain damage from blood loss and will need 24-hour care for the rest of her life, and a seven-year-old child is now non-verbal, uses a wheelchair and is fed through a tube.
- Where
- The attacks took place at Parnell Square East in Dublin City.
- When
- The attacks took place on 23 November 2023, at about 1.30pm.
- Cause
- Bouchaker told gardaí he was upset over a negative social welfare decision.
- Weapon
- The alleged attacks involved stabbings; a 24cm carving knife recovered from the scene was shown to the jury, while one charge refers to possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
- Investigation
- Gardaí watched CCTV of the incident within 30 minutes and compiled footage from across the city centre to track a man wearing a black cap.
- Bouchaker was interviewed seven times, with an Arabic interpreter present, and in his first interview on 20 December 2023 he said he did not want to kill.
- Charges
- Bouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and with assault causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn.
- He is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager, though one account says an adult male, and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate.
- Gardaí arrested Bouchaker on suspicion of attempted murder at the Mater Hospital on 20 December 2023.
- In court
- Bouchaker has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women at the Central Criminal Court.
- The trial is expected to last up to five weeks, and the court has heard evidence from gardaí, paramedics, a firefighter, witnesses and a doctor, with no verdict reported.
117 statements extracted from the articles
- whatRiad Bouchaker was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of children in Dublin city centre. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe alleged attacks left one girl with severe brain damage due to blood loss. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe attacks left one child with a severe brain injury due to blood loss. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe girl will require 24-hour care for the rest of her life. (thejournal.ie)
- whatLeanne Flynn suffered a major stab wound to her lower back. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA firefighter saw a large laceration and an internal organ protruding through on a crèche worker's back. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA five-year-old girl was stabbed in the chest. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe girl had no pulse and looked pale, and her heart was likely perforated, causing cardiac arrest. (thejournal.ie)
- whatRiad Bouchaker has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of three children. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA man dressed in black launched a knife attack on a group of children on Parnell Square, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe attacks took place at Parnell Square East in Dublin City. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Parnell Square East in Dublin City. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Parnell Square East in Dublin City. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Parnell Square East in Dublin City. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe attack happened at Parnell Square East in Dublin City. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe attacks took place on 23 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 23 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 23 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on 23 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe alleged incident happened at about 1.30pm on 23 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on 23 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenA man entered the English Language school at about 12.30pm, a receptionist said. (thejournal.ie)
- causeBouchaker told gardaí he was upset over a negative social welfare decision. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe alleged attacks involved stabbings. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponA 24cm carving knife recovered from the scene was shown to the jury. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe girl suffered a knife wound to her heart. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe garda said the children were stabbed with a knife. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponHe is charged with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponA knife was used in the attack. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponA knife was wielded by the defendant during the incident. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponGardaí found packaging for a 24cm carving knife in a rucksack near the scene. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe attacker was charged with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponBouchaker is charged with possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe accused was interviewed by gardaí on 20 December 2023, with a French Arabic interpreter present. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationIn the first interview the accused told gardaí he did not want to kill. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe accused was interviewed seven times in total. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí kept a presence at the Mater Hospital for 28 days. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí watched CCTV footage of the incident within 30 minutes of it happening. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA cover for a 24cm carving knife was found in a rucksack discarded at a bus stop. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí showed the jury footage of Bouchaker's interviews at Mountjoy Garda Station on 20 and 21 December 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationBouchaker was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA detective seized the accused's clothes, runners and wallet and placed them in evidence bags. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationTwo gardaí were the first on the scene at Parnell Square. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA garda photographed the scene on the afternoon of the attack. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí compiled CCTV footage from across the city centre to track a man wearing a black cap. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí identified Bouchaker through a public services card on his person after finding him restrained on the ground. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with assault causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused is further charged with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeGardaí arrested Bouchaker for attempted murder at the hospital on 20 December. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker is also charged with assault causing serious harm to Leanne Flynn. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker has pleaded not guilty to all charges. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is charged with assault causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is further charged with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker is charged with attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker is on trial charged with attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to a crèche worker. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe is also charged with assaulting two other children and an adult male and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy and with assault causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is further charged with assaulting two other children and an adult male and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with attempted murder of two girls and one boy. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe accused is further charged with assaulting two other children and an adult male. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker is charged with attempted murder of two girls and one boy. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker is charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeRiad Bouchaker is further charged with assaulting two other children and an adult male. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is charged with attempted murder of two girls and one boy. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBouchaker is charged with three counts of assault causing harm. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women. (thejournal.ie)
- courtBouchaker has pleaded not guilty to all charges. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is expected to last up to five weeks. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe prosecution has called all its witnesses and will formally close its case the following week. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury has been viewing CCTV of Bouchaker's garda interviews from 20 December 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- courtBouchaker has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his trial continues before Judge Tony Hunt and a jury. (thejournal.ie)
- courtRiad Bouchaker is on trial at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe has pleaded not guilty to all charges. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe has pleaded not guilty to all charges and the trial is expected to last up to five weeks. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA witness, Peter Harper, a consultant anaesthetist, gave evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is before a jury of nine men and three women and is expected to last up to five weeks. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. (thejournal.ie)
- courtBouchaker has denied all charges made against him. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is before judge Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused has pleaded not guilty to all charges. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA five-year-old girl had been stabbed in the heart during the attack and had no pulse when doctors reached her. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA consultant said doctors went against protocols while trying to save the girl's life. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe garda put to Bouchaker that he walked from his home with a knife in his rucksack. (thejournal.ie)
- otherOne girl suffered a wound 10mm deep to her head that resulted in part of her skull being removed. (thejournal.ie)
- otherLeanne Flynn suffered a punctured lung and had her spleen surgically removed. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBouchaker told gardaí he did not mean to hurt anyone. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBouchaker said the victims did nothing to deserve what happened, but that it was not him in his right mind. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe trial previously heard that one of the injured girls suffered severe brain damage from blood loss after being stabbed in the heart. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge sent the jury home after lunch because one juror had a personal matter to attend to. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA young man said he grabbed the knife from the accused's hand and suffered minor scratches. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA witness, Siobhan Kearney, told the jury she jumped on the defendant and tried to get him to the ground. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe trial has heard that Bouchaker was punched, struck with a motorbike helmet and a bicycle lock before falling to the ground. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused has no fixed address. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA woman was heard screaming that the kid was dead. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA witness saw a girl on the ground being treated by paramedics and a man unconscious nearby. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA bloodstained beige sleeveless jacket was taken from a railing outside the St George Hotel. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA witness heard the man shouting anti-Irish abuse on Mary Street earlier that day. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe attack left several children injured and one girl with severe brain damage. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA five-year-old boy who was hurt in the attack had a wound on his neck that needed paper stitches. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA five-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s were left in a critical condition after the attack. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were also injured. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA seven-year-old child stabbed in the attack is now non-verbal, uses a wheelchair and is fed through a tube after suffering brain damage. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe prosecution told the jury that the evidence will prove the accused intended to kill. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jun2026Child injured in Parnell Square attack is now non-verbal and uses a wheelchair, court hears
Court trial report from 10 June 2026: the accused has pleaded not guilty, the trial has begun, and the court heard evidence from a child's mother and several parents. No existing case in the list matches this trial.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, 5, femalevictim, 30s, femalevictim, 5, malevictim, 6, female - 1 Jun2026Parnell Square attack trial shown CCTV of knife attack on school children
Court report on the trial's second week: gardaí showed the jury CCTV of the suspect's movements before the attack and of the attack itself. Describes injuries to children, the accused's not guilty plea, and a mother's account of her son's injury.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, 5, malevictim, female - 1 Jun2026Witness describes how 'chaos' unfolded on day of the stabbing attack at Parnell Square
Trial report: a receptionist's testimony about a man who entered the language school before the attack and the scene outside afterwards, garda evidence about photographs, a knife packaging and a bloodstained jacket, and the accused's not guilty plea to all charges. No victims are named.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchaker - 1 Jun2026Sister of Stardust victim tells jury of moment she jumped on alleged Parnell Square attacker
Trial report from the Central Criminal Court on 16 June 2026. Witness evidence describes the defendant stabbing children and the crowd intervening. The trial is ongoing and no verdict is reported.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, namedRiad Bouchakervictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictimvictimvictim, malevictim, Leanne Flynn, female, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynn - 1 Jun2026Doctor describes treating little girl who had 'no pulse' after Parnell Square attack
Trial report of 17 June 2026 covering witness evidence from a doctor, bystanders, a former garda and the trial judge's remarks; the accused has pleaded not guilty to all charges and the trial is expected to last up to five weeks.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, 5, femalevictim, 20, male - 1 Jun2026Firefighter tells trial of 'chaotic' scene and crèche worker's injuries after Parnell Square attack
Trial evidence from a firefighter, paramedics and a detective. Adds the accused's plea of not guilty, the injuries described, and the evidence seized from the accused.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, female, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictimvictim - 1 Jun2026Man accused of Parnell Square attack says victims 'did nothing to deserve what happened'
Reports the trial jury viewing CCTV of Bouchaker's garda interviews from 20 December 2023, his comments about the attack, and the charges and not-guilty plea. The trial is continuing.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, namedRiad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictimvictim - 1 Jun2026Man accused of Parnell Square attack denied to gardaí that he 'went for the smallest children'
Trial report: jury shown garda interview footage in which the accused denied targeting the smallest children; trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, namedRiad Bouchakervictim, 5, femalevictim, 5victim, 6victim, Leanne Flynn, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynn - 1 Jun2026Child injured in Parnell Square stabbing left needing life-long, full-time care, doctor says
Court report on the trial, with medical evidence on the girl's lifelong disabilities and the injuries to crèche worker Leanne Flynn. The prosecution is due to close its case the following week.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, namedRiad Bouchakervictim, 5, femalevictim, Leanne Flynn, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictimvictimvictim - 1 Jun2026Hospital staff needed 'reassurance' while treating Riad Bouchaker, garda tells trial
Trial report from 19 June 2026 at the Central Criminal Court. Adds evidence from Det Sgt Padraig Cleary on the hospital garda presence, the arrest at the Mater Hospital and CCTV, Det Gda Raymond Lee and Det Gda Ian Walsh on the knife and jacket, and Dr Michael Boyle on treating the five-year-old girl. No existing case matched this incident.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, 5, female - 1 Jun2026'I did not want to kill': Jury watches video of Parnell Square accused's garda interviews
Reports the jury watching the video of the accused's first garda interview on 20 December 2023, in which he said "I did not want to kill". Adds that he was aided by a French Arabic interpreter, that he was interviewed seven times, and that he has pleaded not guilty to all charges before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Riad Bouchakervictim, Leanne Flynn, irish (judged from name)Leanne Flynnvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, male