The mother of a young girl who was seriously injured in a multiple-stabbing outside a primary school on Parnell Square two years ago says they are “living in the moment and grateful for it” as the anniversary arrives.
The attack happened outside Coláiste Mhuire primary school in Dublin 1 on November 23rd, 2023, during which several other people were also hurt, reports Breaking News.
Aged five at the time, the girl suffered critical injuries and spent most of last year in Temple Street Children’s Hospital before being discharged to continue her recovery for a year.
Her family have continued to post updates on a GoFundMe page created after the incident, which has raised close to €143,000, reports Breaking News.
Recently celebrating her seventh birthday, her mother said the fundraising page will come down before the end of the month, with legal proceedings beginning next month.
“We believe that it is time, plus we will focus on the legal proceedings due to commence in December. But most importantly, we will continue to focus on our family,” she said, reports Breaking News.
Riad Bouchaker (50) is currently before the courts charged with three counts of attempted murder, one count of producing and possessing a kitchen knife, three counts of assault causing harm and one count of assault causing serious harm.
She added: “This Sunday marks two years of the incident on Parnell Square, but it was a Thursday like this one that resonates in my mind. I have since dreaded Thursdays; constantly checking my phone to make sure everyone and everything is alright. Two years… two years! The pain is there, but it is not raw. It has been shelled by love and strength.”, reports Breaking News.
But she said the happiness she sees in her daughter’s eyes is “enough to chip away any ache my heart carries”.
“I do cry still, but not as often or as painfully as I did before. The cry is for missing the old her or imagining what we would be up to at seven years of age.”, reports Breaking News.
“Two years of drive to live. Two years of hard work and dedication. Two years of relearning. And two years of us embracing this new girl we have been gifted with,” she noted., reports Breaking News.
The Dublin girl’s mother said that although the family does not know what the next two years may bring, they are “living in the moment and grateful for it”, reports Breaking News.
She reiterated that they remain “beyond thankful” to all who kept them in their prayers and to those who have been “so generous to complete strangers”.
“We are also humbled by all those people who showed everyone involved in the attack that day that kindness and help can come in all shapes and sizes, and that you did not do it for any other reason besides helping. You are truly heroic. All our appreciation from the bottom of our hearts.”
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