HE WAS "HELLBENT" AND THE CHILDREN WERE "HIS MAIN FOCUS"
On Monday, June 15, 2026 (Day 4 or 5 of evidence) a childcare worker, Leanne Flynn, gave evidence today at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. She described intervening in the alleged knife attack on Parnell Square East on November 23, 2023.
Ms Flynn was lining up children in pairs to walk them to a nearby crèche when she saw a man (alleged to be Bouchaker) approaching in a crouched position.
She witnessed him pull a knife and begin “ferociously jabbing” towards the children multiple times.
She shouted at him to get away, ran at him, and grabbed the back of his jacket to pull him away from the children.
During the tussle, she was stabbed in the back (left side). She initially felt something wet but didn’t immediately realise she was injured.
Bouchaker reportedly turned, looked at her seeming “confused” or “frantic” (as if not expecting an adult to intervene), then went back towards the children.
She continued trying to protect the children, shouting for them to run and calling for help. Members of the public then intervened.
Ms Flynn was later treated for a collapsed lung, severed diaphragm, and partial spleen removal; she spent a month in hospital. Despite these injuries, Mr Bouchaker is not charged with attended murder on Ms Flynn (possibly pointing to the fact he was not intending to murder Ms Flynn but rather she got in the way of him attempting to murder the children).
She told the court the children appeared to be his “main focus” and that he seemed “hell-bent on getting the children.” Defence counsel noted no suggestion that anyone else caused the injuries, and acknowledged the knife’s terrifying potential.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women. It is expected to last up to five weeks overall. Bouchaker maintains not guilty pleas to all eight charges (including three counts of attempted murder).
Last week the court heard testimony that Mr.Bouchaker, who needs an interpreter after 26 years in Ireland, was heard shouting "shit Irish, shit fucking Irish" prior to the attack. He had received a letter that day from Social Welfare which he was not happy about. Mr. Bouchaker had previously been described as "inappropraitely jocular" and "cheerful" when charges were put to him by a psychiatrist for the defence.