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'The effects of this will live with those children forever': the full story of the Riad Bouchaker trial
Summary
On July 1, 2026, the trial of Riad Bouchaker, who attacked a group of children in Dublin, concluded with a detailed account of the events. Leanne Flynn, a creche worker, intervened when Bouchaker pulled a knife from his rucksack and attacked a five-year-old girl. She tackled him, but he stabbed her in the back, causing severe injuries. In the chaos, several children were injured, including one girl who suffered a critical head wound and another with a laceration to the neck. Passersby, including Warren Donohue, Caio Benicio, and Alan Loren-Guille, intervened to stop Bouchaker. Siobhan Kearney helped remove the knife from Bouchaker's grip. A five-year-old girl was found lifeless on the pavement, but she was revived by paramedics and taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. Despite the efforts of medical staff, the girl suffered severe neurological and physical damage, including dystonia and the inability to swallow, requiring lifelong care. Bouchaker, who had a mild cognitive impairment and a benign brain tumour, claimed he was not in his right mind during the attack.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'The effects of this will live with those children forever': the full story of the Riad Bouchaker trial. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2024 Other
- December 20 Incident
- Christmas Other
- 2026-07-01 Publication
Why: Doctors "went against protocols and just ran with things", Dr Boyle said, because they needed to act as quickly as possible. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Defendant
Places mentioned
- Parnell Square
- Parnell Square
- Rotunda Hospital
- Temple Street Children's Hospital
- Mater Hospital
- Temple St Hospital
- Cloverhill Remand prison
- Temple Street
- Talbot Street
- Parnell Square
Topics
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