A judge has called for increased resources to be allocated to the case of Riad Bouchaker, who faces charges of assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children at Parnell Square in Dublin, reports The Mirror.
During proceedings at the Central Criminal Court today, the prosecution informed the court that the defence had submitted a psychiatric report on the accused. However, the prosecution is now working on obtaining their own report, which is expected to be ready by mid-October.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter until October 22, acknowledging that “serious difficulties” were arising due to the ongoing delays in the case, reports The Mirror.
“Someone needs to provide resources for this case,” he said.
Mr Bouchaker (51), who has no fixed address, is accused of trying to murder two girls and a boy. He also faces charges of causing serious harm to a care worker through assault and of possessing or producing a knife, reports The Mirror.
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The alleged incident took place at Parnell Square during the afternoon of November 23, 2023.
In court last December, it was revealed that a psychiatrist had assessed the accused and found that further evaluation by a neuropsychologist was required.
Then in April, the court was informed that this expert report had been completed, but the psychiatrist requested another four weeks for further review, reports The Mirror.
Delays in the treating doctor’s access to the defendant while in prison, along with challenges in interpreter availability, were also brought to the court’s attention.
In May, Mr Justice McDermott emphasized the young age of the alleged victims and stated the case should be expedited as soon as psychiatric matters were addressed, reports The Mirror.
He urged all parties involved, including legal teams and medical professionals, to “strain themselves” so the case could proceed as soon as possible.
When the case returned in June, senior counsel for Mr Bouchaker confirmed receipt of the psychiatric report and indicated it would be shared with the Director of Public Prosecutions in due course, reports The Mirror.
Back in February, the Department of Justice and the courts introduced a new protocol aimed at expediting trials involving children.
Under this plan, courts have committed to completing such cases within a year, where feasible, if a child is involved either as a victim or an accused, reports The Mirror.
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