Judge rules man fit to stand trial over attempted murder of three children on Dublin's Parnell Square

A MAN CHARGED with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square in Dublin in November 2023 is fit to stand trial, a judge has ruled.

Judge Tony Hunt said today that despite the cognitive limitations of 51-year-old Riad Bouchaker, he can be accommodated and is capable of mounting a defence and understanding the nature of the charges against him.

The judge previously spent three days at the Central Criminal Court hearing evidence from two psychiatrists who differed on whether Bouchaker has the cognitive ability to instruct his legal team, enter a plea and engage in the trial process.

A consultant psychiatrist called by the prosecution said that despite the accused having a serious neurocognitive disorder, he can be accommodated at trial, where questions can be repeated, made simpler or closed questions put to him.

He said Bouchaker understands that he is charged with a serious offence, knows the difference between right and wrong, and is capable of entering a plea and instructing his solicitors.

The psychiatrist said Bouchaker understands the difference between a guilty and a not guilty plea.

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However, a consultant psychiatrist called by the defence said Bouchaker is “utterly cognitively incapable” of understanding the choice between a guilty or not guilty plea.

She said he does not understand that he can engage in the trial process, does not understand the seriousness of the charges and is capable of understanding moral matters only in an “extremely basic way”.

Having heard the conflicting evidence, Judge Hunt said he found the evidence of the psychiatrist called by the prosecution more persuasive. He therefore found that Bouchaker is fit to stand trial.

A trial date will be fixed at the earliest opportunity, the judge said.

Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, as well as with assault causing serious harm to a care worker.

He is also charged with three counts of assault causing harm to two other young children and a passerby, who had intervened to assist, as well as one count of the production of a knife.

The incident occurred at Parnell Square East on the afternoon of 23 November 2023.