A former Garda gave evidence yesterday in the trial of Riad Bouchaker, who is facing eight charges in relation to an alleged knife attack on Parnell Square in Dublin.

The 53 year old denies all eight charges, which are alleged to have taken place in November 2023. 

Yesterday, the jury heard from former Garda Adam Keighley, who was on mobile patrol with a colleague when they received news of an alleged attack on Parnell Square. 

He left Store Street Garda Station immediately and drove to the scene as soon as possible. 

Mr Keighley arrived and saw numerous ambulances, he had never seen so many ambulances at a single incident. 

“He said he encountered a member of Dublin Fire Brigade kneeling beside a man and physically restraining that man by holding his wrist and forearm,” Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney recounted on All Rise: The Riad Bouchaker Trial. 

“He asked what was happening and he was told the man on the ground was the suspected attacker. 

“He was told that the knife had been removed, that it was lying somewhere on the opposite side of the road. 

“He said his colleague went to investigate that, so he stayed with the man on the ground and he decided to search him and before doing so he said he put handcuffs on him.” 

Mr Keighley continued that he found a wallet with a public services card in it, which had the name of Riad Bouchaker on it; he also found a mobile phone and a hat. 

According to Mr Keighley, paramedics were treating Mr Bouchaker and that he was then taken to the nearby Mater Hospital. 

Mr Keighley accompanied him in the ambulance, along with two other Gardaí, one of whom was armed. 

During cross-examination by Mr Bouchaker’s defence barrister, he was asked about the shape of his client’s head. 

“He described a bulbous aspect to the left-hand side of it which he said looks fleshy and swollen,” Mr Greaney recounted. 

“He told the witness his client has had a significant portion of his skull removed as a result of that brain surgery back in 2021 and that there is a part of his brain underneath that isn't protected by the skull. 

“Mr  Keighley acknowledged that he did have a bump on his head as far as he could tell, but to what degree he said he didn't know. 

“After leaving the hospital later that afternoon, he said that was his final dealing with Riad Bouchaker.”

Main image: Parnell Square. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.