Riad Bouchaker denied that he 'went for the smallest children'

Man accused of attempted murder in Dublin city centre had the 'instinct not to go after bigger children who could defend themselves', says garda

The garda showed CCTV footage which he said showed Riad Bouchaker about 30 minutes before the alleged attack following a group of 'taller, bigger, older' children who were accompanied by adults. File picture

Riad Bouchaker denied to gardaí that he went for the smallest children he could find when he is alleged to have attempted to murder two five-year-olds and a six-year-old on Parnell Square East.

Detective Garda Kevin Bambrick has been showing the jury in Mr Bouchaker's trial DVD footage of interviews with the accused at Mountjoy Garda Station on December 20 and 21, 2023, about one month after the alleged attacks.

In Mr Bouchaker's seventh and final interview, Det Garda Gary Moran put it to Mr Bouchaker that he walked from his home on Little Britain St in Dublin with a knife in his rucksack.

The garda said the accused searched for a specific school on his mobile phone and asked a number of people for directions and inquired as to what time classes would finish.

The garda showed him CCTV footage which he said showed Mr Bouchaker about 30 minutes before the alleged attack following a group of "taller, bigger, older" children who were accompanied by adults. 

Garda Moran said he believed Mr Bouchaker was "about to attack" those children but decided it was too risky.

Mr Bouchaker said these were the actions of someone who is sick. "If I wasn't sick, I wouldn't," he said.

Garda Moran suggested that Mr Bouchaker demonstrated "restraint and patience" as he waited in the Parnell Square area for 37 minutes. "I was not in the right state of mind," Mr Bouchaker said.

Garda Moran reminded Mr Bouchaker that many times during his interviews he had thanked god that none of the children had passed away. Garda Moran added: "The children are not OK, you are wrong about that. The full effects of this will live with those children forever. They're not OK, so you can stop saying that."

Garda Moran detailed the injuries to each child and to creche worker Leanne Flynn.

Mr Bouchaker said, "sorry", after the garda detailed the injury to a girl who suffered a 10mm-deep wound to her head that resulted in part of her skull being removed.

The garda also detailed the wounds to Ms Flynn, who suffered a punctured lung and had her spleen surgically removed.

Garda Moran added: "When you attacked these children, when you stabbed them with your knife, Leanne protected them. So when you thank god [that nobody passed away], don't bother, you can thank Leanne. And you stabbed Leanne as well."

Mr Bouchaker replied that he was correct to thank the woman for protecting the children. He added: "It looks like my mind flew away."

Garda Moran suggested that Mr Bouchaker knew "exactly" what he was doing and when Ms Flynn tried to prevent him from stabbing the children, he stabbed her so he could return to attacking the children.

Garda Moran then showed Mr Bouchaker a still image of a then five-year-old girl who, he said, died and was revived at the scene having suffered a stab wound to the heart. 

Mr Bouchaker responded: "I'm a believer. I would not hurt anyone. I would not harm anyone."

Garda Moran put it to Mr Bouchaker that he searched for and found the school on his phone, spoke to people rationally, and asked them for directions. He interacted with many people but didn't stab any of them, the garda said.

Garda Moran said Mr Bouchaker had gone around the back of the school, looked over the wall, and saw the children playing. He said Mr Bouchaker had the "instinct not to go after bigger children who could defend themselves".

He added: "You went for the smallest children you could find. Leanne intervened, you stabbed her, and went back to the children. You demonstrated a full mind, made decisions and carried out this attack."

Mr Bouchaker replied: "That's wrong. I'm not in my mind. I was not in my right state of mind. I did not know what doing. I did something wrong to children."

When Garda Moran put it to him that he had waited until there were as few adults around as possible, Mr Bouchaker said: "I'm sick".

Mr Bouchaker said he thanked god there were no fatalities and added: "I am a sick person. Do to me whatever you want."

When the garda asked what his sickness was, Mr Bouchaker mentioned an injury to his shoulder. The French Arabic translator who had been interpreting for Mr Bouchaker asked the gardaí for a break, saying, "I think I am fainting."

Det Garda Bambrick, who had been taking notes while Det Garda Moran spoke to Mr Bouchaker, told Carol Doherty, prosecuting, on Wednesday that after the interpreter's break, gardaí read over the memo of the interview. 

Mr Bouchaker repeated that he is a "sick person" and said he cannot see from one eye. He referred to a letter from the Department of Social Welfare which he said "frustrated me" and added: "Life might be better in here than out there."

Mr Bouchaker, of no fixed address, is 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 centre 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.

His trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.