In brief
The Central Criminal Court found Riad Bouchaker, 52, guilty of attempting to murder three children and assaulting four others outside a Dublin primary school in November 2023. The attacker left a five‑year‑old girl with a life‑long brain injury and caused widespread damage while sparking widely reported riots that saw police vehicles destroyed and shops looted. Sentencing will occur on 12 October 2026, with Bouchaker remanded in custody until then.
Dublin Court Bans 52‑Year‑Old in Startling Attack on School Children
A 52‑year‑old man named Riad Bouchaker has been convicted of attempting to murder three children and assaulting four other people in a violent incident outside a Dublin primary school on 23 November 2023.
The central criminal court heard that Bouchaker stabbed a five‑year‑old girl in the heart, leaving her with a lifelong brain injury. He also inflicted serious harm on a crèche worker and assaulted two other children and a teenager.
All eight charges—three attempted murders, assault causing serious harm, and six other assault counts—were upheld by the jury after a six‑hour deliberation. The verdict was reached on Wednesday afternoon, following a sentence hearing set for 12 October 2026. Bouchaker will remain in custody until his sentencing.
The November attack triggered widespread riots across Dublin, drawing the most riot police in Irish history. Within hours, rioters destroyed 11 police vehicles, damaged and looted 13 shops, and wrecked 3 buses and a tram. Several officers were injured during the three‑hour clash. Police chief Drew Harris accused the rioters of being driven by far‑right ideology.
The incident and its fallout have placed a spotlight on public safety around schools and the effectiveness of policing during civil unrest. Residents are left to grapple with the lingering effects on affected families and the broader community.
