At a hearing on Friday at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Tony Hunt considered medical and psychiatric evidence from two consultant forensic psychiatrists working for the defence and prosecution, Sky News reported. The psychiatrists disagreed about whether Bouchaker should stand trial, though both accepted that the accused had a neurocognitive disorder arising from neurosurgery in 2021 before the incident and a subsequent brain injury sustained in 2023. The judge said Bouchaker had sufficient understanding of his situation and the proceedings, demonstrated ability to provide a coherent and consistent account, could understand the evidence, and had the ability to offer a defence. He added that Bouchaker had cognitive limitations but was currently fit to stand trial, and any difficulties could be tackled without undermining the fairness of the process or the ability of the accused to take part. The judge said this could be done with reasonable accommodations to the proceedings, but the matter would remain under review as the trial progresses.
The attack occurred at Parnell Square East on 23 November 2023, hours before a riot broke out in Dublin, Sky News reported. According to Sky News, Stephen Murphy described how the attack plunged Dublin into rioting later that day, as it became known that the alleged attacker was from another country. The subsequent violence caused millions of euros worth of damage, with police vehicles set on fire and officers injured.
Bouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and a boy, and assault causing serious harm to a care worker, Sky News reported. He also faces three counts of assault causing harm to two other children and a woman in her 30s, as well as a charge of possession and production of a 36cm kitchen knife. He has not yet entered pleas. A trial date has been set for June and it is expected to last two weeks.