Judge to rule on whether Riad Bouchaker can stand trial over attempted murder charges

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt is to rule on whether Riad Bouchaker is fit to enter a plea and stand trial over charges including the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, at the Central Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 20 January 2026.

The court will convene again on 3 February, with judgment intended for 20 February. A State psychiatrist said Mr Bouchaker was fit to plead and stand trial, while a defence psychiatrist said he was “utterly cognitively incapable” of understanding the choice between a guilty or not guilty plea.

Mr Bouchaker is also charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker, three counts of assault causing harm to two other young children and a passerby, and production of a knife.