Parnell Square victim's mother says there will 'never be closure' after Riad Bouchaker conviction

Riad Bouchaker (inset) has been found guilty of all eight charges, including the attempted murder of three children on Parnell Square East in November 2023.

The mother of the young child who was seriously injured in the Parnell Square stabbing attack has said there will "never be closure" for her family, despite the conviction of the man found guilty of attempting to murder her daughter.

In a statement on a GoFundMe page after the conclusion of the trial of Riad Bouchaker, 52, who was found guilty of the attempted murder of three children, she said the verdict had brought justice and a sense of relief, but could never erase the lasting impact of the attack on her daughter and their family.

Mr Bouchaker, of no fixed address, was convicted of the attempted murder of two girls, aged five and six, and a five-year-old boy on Parnell Square East in Dublin city centre on November 23, 2023.

He was also convicted of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to creche worker Leanne Flynn, assaulting two young children and a teenager, and producing a 36cm kitchen knife in a manner likely to intimidate.

One of the children he attempted to murder, who was five at the time of the attack, is now non-verbal and uses a wheelchair.

The mother of the little girl, who has suffered profound injuries, said: "I was asked if it brought some closure, the simple answer is no. There will never be closure, but justice was served."

She said her greatest comfort was knowing that what happened to her family "will not happen to anyone else".

"I do not wish it on anyone," she said in the update on Thursday.

Flowers and tributes left at the scene at Parnell Square in Dublin. File picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

The mother, who gave her first interview to the Irish Examiner in 2024, described the daily reality of watching her daughter live with the consequences of the attack, saying it "chips away" at her heart to see her unable to be the "full bubbly version of herself".

Despite the challenges, she said the family remained determined to focus on their daughter's future.

"We persevere because she needs us and deserves a chance. A chance at happiness," she said.

She added that every parent hopes for "health and happiness" for their child, but said that while she could not guarantee the former, she would "work my hardest" to provide the latter.

Describing the verdict as the end of one chapter rather than the end of the family's journey, she said they had woken with "a bit of solace" following the conclusion of the case.

The mother also addressed comments she had previously made about not holding on to anger, saying she experiences the full range of emotions but makes a conscious effort not to allow negative feelings to consume her.

"I feel all the emotions, but the negative—I choose my absolute best not to allow them to linger because I do not have time to allow them to consume me," she said.

"My daughter, my son and my husband need me."

She ended her message with a simple appeal: "Be kind to one another."

A bus on fire on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre after violent scenes unfolded. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

In the same interview, following the attack that made international headlines and was followed by the Dublin riots, the mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said her daughter was "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

“We don’t want any hate over this," her mother told the Irish Examiner at the time.

"Hate only generates more hate. We don’t have any time for that negativity.

"Our daughter is our priority. She is very resilient and has shown us how determined and strong she is, we have to match her determination.”

Her daughter is now communicating with her family and medical team by using her eyes.

“I know when she does or doesn’t want something, she sometimes rolls her eyes. Even the doctors can see that.

“The future is unknown, but it’s only been a few months. So for now, our daughter is where she needs to be.

"We are with her, and we want everyone to know we are very grateful for all their support.

“We have to keep going for her because she wants to keep going, and she is telling us that very clearly.

“My husband and I help each other. When he is down, I help him, and he then helps me."

She also thanked supporters at home and abroad for their kindness.