Riad Bouchaker trial: Jury watches video of Parnell Square accused's garda interviews

Accused tells garda: 'As long as you know my situation, sometimes I lose concentration and... whatever you guys want to do, do it'

Flowers left close to the scene on Parnell Square East in November 2023. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

A jury has begun watching a video of a garda interview with Riad Bouchaker which was conducted almost one month after he is alleged to have attempted to murder three children on a Dublin street.

Sergeant Ben Geoghegan on Monday told Karl Finnegan, prosecuting, that he was the member in charge of Mountjoy Garda Station when Mr Bouchaker, aged 52, was brought in for questioning. The interviews were recorded on DVD, he said.

Mr Bouchaker was aided by a French Arabic interpreter and his solicitor was present throughout.

Mr Finnegan played the beginning of the first interview, which began at 11.11am on December 20, 2023. At the outset, gardaí cautioned Mr Bouchaker that they would ask him questions and while he was not required to answer, any replies he did make would be written down and may be used as evidence.

When asked for his understanding of the caution, Mr Bouchaker said: "Do not say anything, do not hear anything, do what they tell you."

After the garda explained the caution again, Mr Bouchaker replied: "As long as you know my situation, sometimes I lose concentration and... whatever you guys want to do, do it."

Mr Bouchaker, of no fixed address, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to creche worker Leanne Flynn, at Parnell Square East in Dublin City on November 23, 2023.

He is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.