'Have a go hero' woman 'tackled suspected knifeman on school stabbing spree'

23 November 2023 , 17:43

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Siobhan Kearney, who witnessed this afternoon's attack in Dublin, has been hailed a hero

A woman who witnessed the horror knife attack in Dublin has been hailed a hero after she bravely managed to tackle the suspected attacker.

Five people, including three young children, were taken to hospital on Thursday after being injured in a serious incident in the Irish capital. Reports from the scene said a man tried to attack multiple people before passers-by intervened. It is understood the alleged attacker also sustained injuries, which were believed to be self-inflicted.

One of the children, a girl aged five, and a woman sustained serious injuries in the attack, which took place on Parnell Square East in the north inner-city of Dublin at around 1.30pm. A man and the two other children aged five and six sustained less serious injuries, the Garda said. Officers have been in contact with the parents of the injured children.

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Five people, including three young children, were taken to hospital on Tuesday after being injured in a serious incident (PA)

Siobhan Kearney, who has been praised for her bravery, was on her way to the Stardust Inquests when she came upon the terrifying scene. She told RTE News: "I looked across the road and I seen a man in a stabbing motion with a load of children. So I flew across the road and then the man was after stabbing two children as far as I could make out."

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Another young man rushed to help Ms Kearney while a group of people attempted tackle and disarm the attacker. A ring of people then formed around the man, restraining him. She said: "People were trying to attack the attacker. So me and an American lady we formed a ring around the man and then about three minutes later the fire and ambulance came for the children and then another ambulance and fire officers came for the man on the ground "Two children and the woman were taken back into the school where they were coming from. It was absolutely bedlam."

One eyewitness meanwhile told the Irish Mirror that he saw a nurse giving chest compressions to a child and a man bleeding on the street following the attack. He said: "There was a man on his side with blood coming out of his mouth closer towards O'Connell Street. It was just complete and utter pandemonium - it was horrific. There was a female nurse administering chest compressions to the little child.

Garda said the incident was not believed to be terror related (PA)

"Then the authorities came and there was a huge emergency response, I've never seen anything so horrific, to see that. I said 'what happened' - my concern was is there more? To see people screaming, and crying and confusion and devastation Horrific stuff. I was talking to the guards and said what happened to the best of my knowledge. Devastation. Unimaginable."

Gardai said they were following a definite line of inquiry and were not looking for any other person in connection with the incident at this time. A statement read: "An Garda Síochána continue to investigate all the circumstances of a serious assault which occurred on Parnell Square East shortly after 1:30pm this afternoon Thursday, 23rd November 2023. Preliminary indications are that a male attacked a number of people on Parnell Square East. Five (5) casualties have been taken to hospitals in the Dublin Region.

"These casualties include three (3) young children, an adult female and an adult male. One girl aged 5 has sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving emergency medical treatment in CHI Temple Street. A boy aged 5 and a girl aged 6 years, who received less serious injuries were brought to CHI Crumlin for treatment. The boy has since been discharged from CHI Crumlin.

"An Garda Síochána is providing support to the children's parents. The adult female in her 30s is being treated for serious injuries at the Mater Hospital. An adult male in his 50s is also being treated for serious injuries at a Hospital in the Dublin Region. The scene remains sealed off at this time and a technical examination of the scene is ongoing.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas