Jury continues deliberations in Parnell Square stabbing trial

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

A jury is continuing its deliberations in the trial of a man accused of the attempted murder of three children on a street in Dublin city centre three years ago.

The jury was sent home after an hour of deliberating on Tuesday, and resumed considering its verdicts against Riad Bouchaker at 10.43am on Wednesday.

Jurors had requested several documents, including the judge’s remarks during his charge to them about attempted murder and assault causing harm or intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm.

They also requested the transcripts of four witnesses’ evidence, as well as the transcripts of the prosecution and defence barristers’ closing statements.

Judge Tony Hunt told the jury they were printing off the requested documentation on Tuesday morning.

The trial of Bouchaker, 52, of no fixed address, began more than three weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

Bouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls, aged five and six, and one five-year-old boy on Parnell Square East on November 23rd 2023.

He is also charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to care worker Leanne Flynn, with assault causing harm to two young children and a teenager, and with producing a 36cm kitchen knife.

He has pleaded not guilty to all eight charges.

The jury heard evidence from around 16 witnesses who described to the court what they saw of the incident, from the parents of the children at the centre of the charges; the evidence of the four witnesses of alleged prior encounters with the accused; and medics, emergency service personnel, and investigating gardaí.

They were also shown videoed Garda interviews with Bouchaker, held in December 2023, a month after the incident.