Mum of girl, 5, stabbed outside school gives condition update

07 January 2024 , 22:04

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The scene in Dublin city centre after five people were injured, including three young children, following a serious public order incident which occurred on Parnell Square East (Image: PA)

A five-year-old girl who was seriously hurt in a stabbing outside a school in Dublin will need to "relearn everything", her family have revealed. A message on a GoFundMe page offered an update on the girl, from her close relatives, who said she has now begun the "3rd phase of her recovery".

In addition to the young child, two other children alongside a crèche worker were hurt in the attack in Parnell Square, which took place on November 23. The five-year-old girl was seriously injured and spent several weeks in paediatric intensive care.

In December she left PICU and her recovery has continued. In the most recent post on the GoFundMe page, the family said: "Hi everyone, our darling girl has now entered the 3rd phase of her recovery. This will be the longest as she will relearn everything as a result of her injury. She has done really well thus far and the medical team is very happy with her improvement.

Police detain a man on O'Connell Street in Dublin following violent scenes in the city centre on Thursday evening (PA)

“Once again, she is so strong and we are proud to be by her side supporting her, guiding her, and, above all, loving her every step of the way.” After the attack, there was a riot in Dublin city centre.

A man has been charged, and placed before a court in Dublin, regarding the stabbing incident outside the school. 50-year-old Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed address, has been accused of trying to murder the two girls and boy. He is also charged with the assault causing serious harm to the creche worker, as well as with three counts of assault causing harm and the possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife.

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Authorities believe subsequent riots in Dublin city centre were led by far-right individuals with strong anti-immigration beliefs, who thought the attacker could be a migrant. Straight away online, anti-immigration rhetoric began, which prompted 500 members of the public to protest. This led to cars and shops being damaged and clashes with police.

Charlie Duffield