The mother of a young girl who nearly died in a stabbing outside an Irish school has provided a heartbreaking update on her daughter's condition. The child, aged five at the time of the attack, was seriously injured along with another young girl, a boy, and a creche worker during the stabbing on Dublin’s Parnell Square on November 23, 2023.
Mother's Testimony in Court
During the trial at the Central Criminal Court, the mother described the moment she learned of the attack. She received a tearful call from the creche owner, who told her, 'Oh my God, oh my God, […] has been stabbed, you have to come,' explaining it happened in front of the school. The mother, who worked nearby, said, 'I stopped breathing for a second but I kept running and I got there.'
Upon arriving, she saw her daughter’s pink backpack and pink shoes near the school entrance as emergency workers surrounded the child. 'I stopped and let them work because I could not do anything for her at that moment,' she told the court.
Critical Injuries and Recovery
The girl suffered a wound to her heart and her brain was deprived of oxygen for approximately 40 minutes. She remained in the intensive care unit for three weeks under heavy sedation while doctors assessed the extent of brain damage. Her mother’s first question after a life-saving operation was, 'Is she dead?'
Now, the child is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair. She is learning to swallow again and communicates by blinking to indicate yes or no. She relies on medication to sleep. Her family previously stated that she has had to relearn everything during her recovery.
The Accused
Riad Bouchaker, 52, originally from Algeria, is charged with the attempted murder of three children and other offenses. He is accused of assault causing serious harm to a care worker, assaulting three people, and producing a 36cm kitchen knife. Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to all charges through an interpreter, claiming he was 'not in his right mind' at the time of the incident.
The trial continues.
