Riad Bouchaker, 52, was found guilty of attempting to murder three children and assaulting others after a violent confrontation outside a Dublin school on 23 November 2023.
Charges and Victims
Bouchaker was convicted on all eight charges he denied at the Central Criminal Court. A five‑year‑old girl suffered a life‑long brain injury after a stab to the heart; the case also involved an assault on crèche worker Leanne Flynn and attacks on two other children and a teenager.
Sentencing
Judge Tony Hunt thanked the jury for their hard work and, noting the evidence, set sentencing for 12 October. Bouchaker will remain in custody until then.
Riots and Aftermath
The attack sparked widespread riots across Dublin. Within hours, 11 police vehicles were destroyed and 13 shops suffered damage or looting. Three buses, a tram and several police officers were damaged or injured during hours of sustained violence. Police chief Drew Harris described the rioting as being carried out by a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far‑right ideology.”
The incident marks one of the most violent periods in Irish history, with the largest deployment of riot police in the state ever recorded.
