Doctor on scene describes knife injuries inflicted on child – The Irish Times
Riad Bouchaker, 52, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the attempted murder of two girls and one boy during a knife attack at Parnell Square East in Dublin on November 23, 2023. Court testimony revealed a five-year-old girl suffered a cardiac arrest after being stabbed in the chest, requiring emergency intervention from a passing doctor.
How was the injured child treated?
Peter Harper, a consultant anaesthetist at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, testified that he was cycling to a meeting when he encountered emergency services at Parnell Square. A Dublin Fire Brigade member directed him to a five-year-old girl who had been stabbed in the chest.
Harper said the child was pale, had no pulse, and likely suffered a perforated heart. He inserted a breathing tube into her neck while paramedics performed chest compressions.
Dr. Lisa Corley, a paediatric registrar at the Rotunda Hospital, ordered blood for a transfusion that Harper performed inside the ambulance. Upon arrival at Temple Street, Harper continued working on the child in the hospital’s largest theatre before she was moved to intensive care.
What did eyewitnesses report during the attack?
Conor Garvey told prosecuting barrister Karl Finnegan that he was driving an ambulance to the Rotunda Hospital when a bystander frantically waved him down. Garvey observed a chest laceration with blood “oozing” rather than “spurting,” which he said indicated low heart pressure or a nicked artery.
The court heard from a man who witnessed a woman attempting to fight off a man with a knife. The witness testified that he grabbed the knife from the man’s hand and threw it away.
During this struggle, another man struck Bouchaker on the head with a motorcycle helmet. Witness Catherine Carbery, testifying from Australia, stated she saw a man who “appeared to be attacking” a child with a knife.
What are the charges against Riad Bouchaker?
Bouchaker, who has no fixed address, faces charges of attempted murder of two girls and one boy. He is also charged with causing serious harm to creche worker Leanne Flynn.
Additional charges include the assault of two other children and an adult male, as well as producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate. Bouchaker has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What may happen next?
The trial is expected to last up to five weeks. Legal proceedings may continue to focus on the defendant’s intent, as seen in the cross-examination of Catherine Carbery regarding whether the intent was to intimidate rather than stab.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Riad Bouchaker?
He is a 52-year-old man of no fixed address currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court for attempted murder and multiple assault charges.
Where and when did the incident occur?
The attack took place at Parnell Square East in Dublin city on November 23, 2023.
What was the condition of the five-year-old victim?
According to testimony, the girl had a stab wound over her heart, no pulse, and was in cardiac arrest before receiving emergency treatment and surgery.
How should legal systems balance eyewitness testimony against claims of intimidation in violent crime trials?