A judge has decided a man is fit to stand trial charged with attempting to murder three children in Dublin.
Riad Bouchaker, 52, of no fixed abode, is accused of an attack at Parnell Square East on 23 November 2023, hours before a riot broke out in the capital.
At a hearing on Friday, at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt considered medical and psychiatric evidence, including from two consultant forensic psychiatrists working for the defence and prosecution, who disagreed about whether Bouchaker should stand trial.
The judge said both psychiatrists accepted that the accused had a neurocognitive disorder arising from neurosurgery in 2021 before the incident, and a subsequent brain injury sustained in 2023.
Mr Justice Hunt said the accused had sufficient understanding of his situation and the proceedings, had demonstrated ability to provide a coherent and consistent account, could understand the evidence and had the ability to offer a defence.
He said this could be done with “reasonable accommodations” to the proceedings, but the matter would remain “under review” as the trial progresses.
The judge said Bouchaker “undoubtedly had cognitive limitations” but was “currently fit to stand trial”.
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He added that any difficulties could be tackled without undermining the fairness of the process or the ability of the accused to take part.
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Bouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and a boy, and assault causing serious harm to a care worker.
He also faces three counts of assault causing harm to two other children and a woman in her 30s, as well as a charge of possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife. He has not yet entered pleas.
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Sky’s Ireland Correspondent Stephen Murphy, who is following the case, said the attack plunged Dublin into “rioting later that day, as it became known that the alleged attacker on that day was from another country”.
He added that the subsequent violence caused millions of euros worth of damage, with police vehicles set on fire and officers injured.
Bouchaker, wearing glasses, a grey shirt, green jacket and green pants, spoke with his Arabic interpreter throughout the proceedings.
A trial date has been set for June and it is expected to last two weeks.
