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. 9105Attempted murder · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2023

Trial of Riad Bouchaker over Parnell Square school attack

Riad Bouchaker, a 52-year-old Algerian man, has been charged over an alleged knife attack on children outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square, Dublin 1, at about 1:45 pm on 23 November 2023. Two girls and one boy were injured, and one girl in senior infants needed surgery for a head injury. Bouchaker is charged with attempted murder and assault causing harm, and he denies all charges. On 11 June 2026 a jury at the Central Criminal Court was shown CCTV of the alleged attack, and on 12 June 2026 witness evidence was heard. The trial is continuing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court11 Jun
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man allegedly launched a knife attack on a group of children outside a school on Parnell Square.
  • Two girls and one boy were injured, and a girl in senior infants needed surgery for a head injury.
Where
The attack took place outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East, Dublin 1.
When
The attack took place at about 1:45 pm on 23 November 2023.
Weapon
The alleged weapon was a 36cm kitchen knife.
Investigation
Gardaí harvested 49 CCTV exhibits, and Garda Ciarán Fury compiled them into a montage.
Charges
  • Riad Bouchaker is charged with attempting to murder a male child and two female children.
  • He is also charged with causing serious harm to a care worker and assault causing harm to another male child, a female child and a French national.
  • He is charged with production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
In court
  • The trial is before a jury of three women and nine men at the Central Criminal Court, with Carl Finnegan SC prosecuting.
  • The accused denies all charges and the trial is continuing.
Other details
  • The accused is an Algerian man aged 52 who came to Ireland as an asylum seeker about 25 years ago.
  • A witness said she heard the accused make a remark about people as he passed her.
  • A Dublin Bus driver said a man in dark clothing asked him where a school was on the day of the incident.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo girls and one boy were injured in a knife attack outside their school. (gript.ie)
  • whatA little girl sustained a head injury that required surgical intervention. (gript.ie)
  • whatA man allegedly launched a knife attack on a group of children outside a school on Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe attack happened outside a school on Parnell Square East, Dublin. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe children were standing outside a school on Parnell Square. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square, Dublin 1. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe attack on the line of children happened at 1:45 pm. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 23 November 2023. (gript.ie)
  • weaponThe attack was a knife attack. (gript.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon was a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí harvested 49 CCTV exhibits. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGarda Ciarán Fury compiled the CCTV into a montage. (gript.ie)
  • chargeRiad Bouchaker is accused of attempted murder of three small children. (gript.ie)
  • chargeRiad Bouchaker is accused of assault causing harm to two others. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with attempting to murder a male child, 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 against another male child, a female child and a French national. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with production of a 36cm kitchen knife. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is also charged with assault causing harm in respect of another male child, a female child, and a French national. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before a jury of three women and nine men. (gript.ie)
  • courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court was shown CCTV of the attack. (gript.ie)
  • courtCarl Finnegan SC is prosecuting the case. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe accused denies all charges and the trial continues. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe trial is continuing and the accused denies all charges. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe girl was in senior infants at the time. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe accused came to Ireland as an asylum seeker about 25 years ago. (gript.ie)
  • otherA witness said she heard the suspect say 'Shit Irish, shit f**king Irish' as he passed her. (gript.ie)
  • otherA Dublin Bus driver said a man in dark clothing asked him where a school was on the day of the incident. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    Witness: School attack suspect said "Shit Irish f**king Irish" - Gript

    Court report on the trial: witness evidence, the full list of charges and the accused's plea of denial. No existing case matched.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, Algerian, named, non-irishRiad Bouchakervictim, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictim, French, non-irish
  2. 11 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    Jury shown CCTV of knife attack on children - Gript

    Trial report: the jury was shown a CCTV montage of the alleged attack and the prosecution's account of the suspect's movements beforehand. The accused denies all charges and the trial is ongoing.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, 52, male, Algerian, named, non-irishRiad Bouchakervictim, malevictim, femalevictimvictim, French, non-irish
  3. 11 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    A fragment of her skull was "gone" Parents' evidence in trial - Gript

    Reports parents' evidence about their children's injuries at the ongoing trial, including a head injury needing surgery to a girl in senior infants.

    accused, Riad Bouchaker, male, Algerian, named, non-irishRiad Bouchakervictim, female