The trial of Riad Bouchaker has seen a Garda interview in which he said he “would not harm anyone”. 

The 52-year-old faces eight charges in relation to an alleged knife attack on Parnell Square in November 2023. He denies all charges. 

Yesterday, the jury was shown a further Garda interview by Detectives Gary Moran and Kevin Bambrick with Mr Bouchaker, which took place on 21st December 2023, several weeks after the alleged attack. 

In the interview, Mr Bouchaker was shown CCTV footage of his movements around the city centre that afternoon. 

At this point, Mr Bouchaker told Gardaí that he felt like a broken man. 

He was shown a clip of himself and Gardaí suggested to him that he was looking over the wall of a school where children are playing. 

Mr Bouchaker replied that he has “nothing”, adding that, “You guys know I am sick.” 

Gardaí then shows Mr Bouchaker another clip in which he is able to identify himself. 

“Detective Moran tells him it looks like he's putting his hand in an area from where he later pulls the knife,” Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney recounted on All Rise: The Riad Bouchaker Trial. 

“Riad Bouchaker swears he didn't see it.

“‘See what?’ he's asked. ‘I don't know what I'm doing,’ he replied.

“Detective Moran then told him what he thinks he's doing in that clip, watching those children. 

“He says, ‘You were about to attack them and you decided not to.’” 

At this point in the interview, Mr Bouchaker insisted that he sees someone who is not in the right state of mind, telling Gardaí that he did not have a cent for 140 years.

Detective Moran then returned to the alleged attack in Parnell Square.

“He accused Mr Bouchaker of dropping a pin for their school on his phone in relation to the other group of children,” Mr Greaney said. 

“He said they came out of the school that he was looking for directions to. 

“He said they were taller, older and bigger than the children he's accused of attacking. 

“He said, ‘You thought about attacking those children but you believed it was too risky - you weighed up your options.’” 

In the interview, Mr Bouchaker swore he had no idea but Detective Moran said he believed it was a planned attack and that he was thinking straight. 

Detective Moran put it to Mr Bouchaker that he had waited 37 minutes in the Parnell Square  area because he planned the attack. 

At this point, Gardaí played Mr Bouchaker footage of the alleged attack once again. 

“Detective Moran stood up in the interview room to point it out to him,” Mr Greaney recounted. 

“He said to him, ‘You are now attacking the children and Mr Bouchaker said, ‘That is a mistake.’” 

At this point, Gardaí ran through the injuries of all his alleged victims. 

A few moments later, Mr Bouchaker replied, “I am a believer, I do not hurt people, I would not harm anyone.”

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