A childcare worker has given evidence in the trial of Riad Bouchaker, who is facing eight charges, including the attempted murder of three school children, arising from an alleged knife attack on Parnell Square in Dublin.

The 52 year old man has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the alleged assault of Leanne Flynn, who the court heard from yesterday. 

On All Rise: The Riad Bouchaker Trial, Courts Correspondent Frank recounted what happened when she took the stand. 

“She is very softly spoken so the judge asked her to lean into the microphone so she could be picked up,” Mr Greaney said. 

“On the day in question, she said that she arrived at the school a little later than usual, just by a few minutes, her colleague another childcare worker was already there and she said that when the kids came out she and her colleague just started lining them all up in pairs and up against a railing - just like as she did every other day.” 

It was at this point, Ms Flynn told the jury, that a man dressed in dark clothing caught her eye. 

“She said her focus was on the kids but that he grabbed her attention because he was just standing at a nearby bus stop, seemingly looking for something in a bag,” Mr Greaney said. 

Soon afterwards, Ms Flynn said that she saw him moving towards the children, at which point she spotted that he was carrying a knife in one hand. 

“She said he just started ferociously stabbing,” Mr Greaney recounted. 

“She said that she started shouting, asking him what he was doing, telling him to leave the children alone but she did more than just shout. 

“She also ran at him grabbing him from behind, she said she grabbed the back of his jacket. 

“He didn't say anything back to her, according to Ms Flynn he was still trying to jab with the knife but she was able to pull him back from the children.” 

Ms Flynn described the alleged attacker as fat, with very big eyes, darkish hair and that he looked at her with a very confused expression. 

She said the pair began to tussle, at which point she believes she was stabbed. 

“She said she didn't see it happen but assumed that he had stabbed her with the same knife that he had in his right hand,” Mr Greaney recounted. 

“She said that she just felt something wet but in the moment it didn't register with her straightaway that she had been stabbed and injured. 

“After that she claimed he tried to get back to the children, was swinging the knife so she went back over and grabbed him a second time. 

“By then she said some of the children had moved but some were frozen.

“She said that she remembered shouting for help and that's when others intervened.” 

Treatment

Ms Flynn recounted how not long after that, she realised she had been stabbed and an elderly man came to sit with her, while a lady from a nearby hotel also came out to help. 

“She said that paramedics arrived a few minutes later,” Mr Greaney said. 

“When she was asked if she remembered anything else before she was taken to hospital, she said that she just remembered looking to her left and seeing two children crying next to her with blood on their hands.” 

Ms Flynn was then taken to the Mater Hospital, where she remained for a month. 

During her time in hospital, she was placed into an induced coma and underwent two emergency surgeries. 

She finished her evidence by saying that she has not been able to go back to work since then.

Main image: An Garda Síochána and emergency services at the scene of a serious incident on Parnell Square East. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.