Man ‘fit to stand trial’ over attempted murder of Dublin children, judge finds

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

A man charged with attempting to murder three children in Dublin 2023 has been declared “currently fit to stand trial”.

Riad Bouchaker, 51, of no fixed abode, is charged with the attempted murder of two female children and one male child in an incident that took place at Parnell Square East in Dublin City on November 23rd, 2023.

He was also charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker.

The man was further charged with three counts of assault causing harm as well as the possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife.

At the Central Criminal Court on Friday, Judge Tony Hunt made a ruling on Bouchaker’s fitness to stand trial after considering relevant medical and psychiatric evidence.

Bouchaker was present in court for the proceedings which were translated for him by an Arabic interpreter.

Judge Hunt said: “My finding is Riad Bouchaker is currently fit to stand trial.”

A five-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s were left in a critical condition in hospital after the attack near a school on November 23rd.

Two other young children, a five-year-old boy and six-year-old girl, were also injured.

The attack happened hours before a riot broke out in the centre of the capital.