Fitness to be tried hearing of Riad Bouchaker
The accused in the Parnell Sq. school stabbing incident, Riad Bouchaker (52), has appeared before Mr. Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court.
The accused, who was aided in court by an Arabic interpreter, came to Ireland in the year 2000, after he said he worked as a garment seller in his native Algeria.
He is charged that, on the 23rd of November 2023 outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Sq. Dublin 1, he attempted to murder of a male child, attempted to murder two female children, and caused serious harm to a care worker.
He was also charged with assault causing harm in respect of another male child, assault causing harm in respect of a female child, assault causing harm in respect of a French national, and one count of production of a 36cm kitchen knife.
A consultant forensic psychiatrist, on behalf of the defence, said that Bouchaker has a complex medical history and had a benign brain tumour removed in 2021. The area of skull, which had been temporarily removed to facilities, the surgery had later become infected, and ultimately had to be removed, leaving part of his brain unprotected, the court heard.
She said that he is unable to stand trial in respect of the alleged offences due to his reduced state of cognitive ability, and that he is “suffering from a mental disorder by reason of which he is unable to understand the nature and course of the proceedings” and “could not instruct a lawyer”.
He suffered “further brain trauma” after members of the public intervened during the alleged attack.
He now has a “moderate mental disorder”, and would need to be kept in a “secure facility” as he poses a “danger to himself and others”.
The court heard that the defence were “not canvassing” for a plea of “not guilty by reason of insanity”, but that the “point of contention” between the defence and prosecution was the “cognitive impact” of this at the time of the alleged offences.
Extensive evidence given by the defence psychiatrist outlined how, during interview, the accused was unable to display an understanding of the process of a criminal trial or to explain back reasons put to him about why he was in custody.
The psychiatrist said that Bouchaker was “smiling”, “cheerful” and seemed “generally unaware of the seriousness of his situation” and displayed an “inappropriate” level of “jocularity”.
He said that he was a “sick” person, that he was “disabled 100%”, that he had no money for “three years” and that he was in constant pain because of repeated dislocation of his left shoulder.
She said that he was “not responding to unseen stimuli or hallucinations,” during the interactions.
His brother, who also resides in Ireland, said that, in the months leading up to the alleged incident, the accused had been behaving in a way that was hitherto uncharacteristic, which the defence advanced was a result of the complication which arose from his cranial surgery and the subsequent infection.
The case was adjourned until 11:15 Monday the 19th of January.
