Riad Bouchaker, who is charged for the November 2023 knife attack in Dublin's Parnell Square, has been deemed fit to stand trial by a Dublin judge.
“My finding is Riad Bouchaker is currently fit to stand trial," Justice Tony Hunt said in Dublin's Central Criminal Court on Friday, according to the PA.
Justice Hunt had considered the evidence of two consultant forensic psychiatrists - one for the defense and one for the prosecution - as well as Bouchaker’s garda interviews, before making his decision, the PA reports.
Neither the defense nor the prosecution is arguing for the defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The judge ultimately felt that Bouchaker is fit to stand trial with reasonable accommodations.
Algerian native Bouchaker was present for Friday's proceedings, which were translated for him by an Arabic interpreter.
The 52-year-old, of no fixed abode, is charged with the attempted murder of three children in the incident that took place at Parnell Square East in Dublin City on November 23, 2023.
He is also charged with assault causing serious harm to a care worker, three counts of assault causing harm, and the possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
Justice Hunt set a trial date for June 8, and it is expected to last two to three weeks.
On November 23, 2023, three young children and their caregiver were hospitalized following a serious assault in Dublin's Parnell Square East near Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire.
Two of the children were released from the hospital soon after, while the caregiver, Leanne Flynn, received treatment for a longer period. The third child, a girl, spent more than a year in care in hospital and a rehabilitation center.
Bouchaker, who was also hospitalized after the incident, was arrested later in December 2023. He was charged with the attempted murder of two female children and one male child; assault causing serious harm to a female childcare worker; and three counts of assault causing harm to the three children. He was additionally charged with one count of possession or production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
The stabbing incident gave way to a night of "serious public disorder" in Dublin's City Center that saw several vehicles damaged by fire, Garda cars extensively damaged, more than a dozen properties attacked and damaged, and a number of members of An Garda Síochána injured.
In an update last year, An Garda Síochána said 85 people had been arrested / interviewed in relation to their alleged offending on the night of the disorder, and that of those 85, 66 had been charged with offences.
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