Parnell Square: The Riad Bouchaker trial so far

The trial of Riad Bouchaker, accused of a brutal attack at Parnell Square in Dublin, is underway at the Central Criminal Court. The 52-year-old faces charges including the attempted murder of three children and assaulting a childcare worker, causing her serious harm. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

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I stopped breathing for a second but then kept running

Testimony from the mother of a five-year-old victim painted a harrowing picture of the events of November 23, 2023. She recounted receiving a call from her daughter's after-school crèche, initially fearing a minor fall, only to learn her child had been stabbed. Rushing to the scene, she witnessed emergency services and saw Bouchaker being placed into an ambulance.

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her daughter had been stabbed in front of the school and she had to come.

Describing the aftermath, the mother detailed her daughter's critical condition at Temple Street Children's Hospital. Doctors worked to control blood loss and "regain life into her." Her daughter suffered oxygen deprivation for approximately 40 minutes, resulting in severe brain damage. She is now wheelchair-bound, non-verbal, fed through a stomach tube, and requires medication to sleep. Her muscles function inversely to her will, and she needs sedation if she becomes too hot or excited.

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the gentleman in question - the accused man, Riad Bouchaker - being put into an ambulance.

Legal affairs correspondent Órla O’Donnell is covering the evidence presented to the jury. The prosecution, led by Karl Finnegan, is building its case, while Bouchaker's defense maintains his innocence.

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they were working on her daughter.