In brief
Riad Bouchaker, 52, was found guilty of attempting murder against a five‑year‑old girl and of assaulting several others in Parnell Square. The trial concluded after six hours of jury deliberation, with Bouchaker sentenced to a lengthy custodial term. The attack in November 2023 triggered widespread riots, resulting in the destruction of police vehicles, shops and public transport. Irish police chief blamed far‑right ideologies for the unrest. The case highlights the challenges of community safety and judicial response in Dublin.
Riad Bouchaker, a 52‑year‑old man with no fixed address, was found guilty in the Central Criminal Court of attempted murder of a five‑year‑old girl in Parnell Square, Dublin, in November 2023.
In addition to the murder charge, he was convicted of assault causing serious harm to a crèche worker, as well as of assault on two other children and a teenager. All eight charges, which he had earlier denied, were upheld after a six‑hour jury deliberation.
The brutal incident left the child with a lifelong brain injury and caused widespread terror, leading to a city‑wide riot that lasted several hours. Police trucks were destroyed, 13 shops were damaged and looted, and a tram was set on fire on O’Connell Street.
Irish police chief, Drew Harris, described the rioters as a "lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far‑right ideology." The incident prompted the deployment of the largest riot police contingent in Irish history.
Judge Tony Hunt praised the jury’s hard work, acknowledging the difficulty of hearing the evidence, and thanked them for a verdict “entirely in line with the evidence that you heard.” Bouchaker will be remanded in custody until his sentencing on 12 October.
