Dublin Attacker Convicted of Attempted Murder of Three Children

Sun Sep 06 2026 21:14:22 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 52‑year‑old man is found guilty of attempting to murder three children and assaulting others in Parnell Square, reigniting debates on public safety and judicial response.

On 1 July 2026, the Central Criminal Court in Dublin delivered a verdict against Riad Bouchaker, a 52‑year‑old defendant, for attempted murder of three children and multiple assaults. Bouchaker’s actions left a five‑year‑old girl with a life‑long brain injury and sparked a series of murders. The final ruling came after a six‑hour jury deliberation, leading to a sentencing date in October and continued trial discussions. The case follows a November 2023 attack that triggered the worst riots in Irish history, with massive property damage and police involvement.

A 52‑year‑old man has been found guilty of the attempted murder of three children and assaulting four other people in Dublin's Parnell Square in November 2023.

Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed address, was also found guilty of assault causing serious harm to a crèche worker and of assaulting two other children and a teenager.

In total, the man was found guilty of all eight charges, which he had denied at the Central Criminal Court. The jury was sent out on Tuesday, deliberated for around six hours, and reached a verdict on Wednesday afternoon.

Judge Tony Hunt thanked the jury for their hard work and recognised the difficulty of hearing the evidence. He stated that the verdicts were entirely in line with the evidence heard.

Sentencing has been set for 12 October, and Bouchaker will be remanded in custody until then.

The Attack and its Aftermath

The assault on 23 November 2023 sparked widespread riots across Dublin. The most riot police in Irish state history were deployed to manage the unrest.

Within hours, rioters destroyed 11 police vehicles, damaged 13 shops, and looted several others during clashes with riot police. Three buses, a tram, and additional vehicles were also destroyed, and several police officers were injured during three hours of sustained violence.

Ireland's police chief, Drew Harris, condemned the rioting as the work of a lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far‑right ideology.