Man guilty of attempted murder of three children in Dublin

A 52‑year‑old man, Riad Bouchaker, has been convicted of attempting to murder three children and assaulting four others in the November 2023 attack that rocked Parnell Square, Dublin.

The court heard that Bouchaker stabbed a five‑year‑old girl in the heart, leaving her with a permanent brain injury. The same assailant also attacked crèche worker Leanne Flynn, a second child, a teenager and another victim, for a total of eight offences.

Jury deliberations lasted about six hours, ending with a unanimous verdict of guilty on all counts. The judge, Tony Hunt, praised the jury’s hard work and noted the difficulty of listening to the horrific details presented.

Bouchaker was found to be speaking through an interpreter when the verdict was handed down and remains remanded in custody until sentencing on 12 Oct. 2024.

Unprecedented Riots Followed the Attack

The assault triggered a day‑long riot that saw the most riot police deployed in Irish history. Within hours of the attack, rioters destroyed eleven police vehicles, set fire to a tram on O’Connell Street, and damaged or looted thirteen shops.

Three buses and the aforementioned tram were condemned as a result of the clashes, while several police officers sustained injuries during the three hours of sustained violence.

Police chief Drew Harris condemned the riots as the work of a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far‑right ideology”.

The incident has prompted calls for stronger security measures around schools and public transport, as well as renewed debate on how to address radical groups that contribute to civic unrest.