Man on trial for Dublin school stabbing claims no intent

A man on trial for a stabbing attack outside a Dublin school told gardaí he was upset over a social welfare decision but did not intend to kill or harm anyone. Riad Bouchaker, 52, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of three children and multiple assault charges stemming from an incident on Parnell Square East on November 23, 2023.

The Central Criminal Court jury has been viewing video recordings of Bouchaker's garda interviews, conducted on December 20, 2023, at Mountjoy Garda Station. In his second interview, Bouchaker, speaking through an Arabic interpreter, said he was "upset because of the negative decision" from social welfare but insisted he "didn't mean to hurt anybody." He described finding a knife in his accommodation and said he did not remember the events clearly, stating he had a "fish memory."

When shown CCTV footage from the scene, Bouchaker identified himself but said he was "literally unconscious" and "not in my right mind." He told gardaí the children "did nothing to deserve what happened to them." He added that he was "ready for whatever the family wants" and said he was happy to have been told a girl had been saved.