A 52-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of three children in Dublin city centre three years ago. Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed address, appeared before the Central Criminal Court on Monday facing eight charges relating to the attack on 23 November 2023.
He is accused of the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, as well as assault causing serious harm to a care worker. Additional charges include assaulting three other people and producing a 36cm-long kitchen knife. Speaking through an interpreter, he entered not guilty pleas to all counts.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt informed a panel of potential jurors that the trial could last up to five weeks. A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in on Monday afternoon, with the trial set to open on Wednesday morning.
The judge noted that the case had attracted significant publicity, urging jurors to remain open-minded and objective. He emphasised that Bouchaker is entitled to the presumption of innocence. The court also heard that Bouchaker has an acquired brain injury, following a benign brain tumour surgery in 2021 and a head injury on the day of the incident, requiring medical treatment.
Accommodations have been granted to ensure a fair trial, including an interpreter, shorter court sittings, and frequent breaks to address Bouchaker's attention deficits. The judge stated that Bouchaker has been deemed fit to stand trial, and the only available verdicts are guilty or not guilty.
