WHEN GARDAÍ INTERVIEWED Riad Bouchaker (52) after his arrest on suspicion of the attempted murder of children in Dublin city centre, he told them that he ‘did not want to kill,’ the Central Criminal Court heard today.
The jury in his trial has been watching a video of the first interview Mr Bouchaker gave to gardaí on 20 December 2023, a little under one month after the alleged attacks that left one girl with severe brain damage due to blood loss. Mr Bouchaker denies the attempted murder of three children and other assault charges.
Sgt Ben Geoghegan today told prosecution counsel Karl Finnegan SC that Mr Bouchaker was aided by a French Arabic interpreter and his solicitor was present throughout.
The first interview began at 11.11am on 20 December 2023. At the outset, Garda Gary Moran cautioned Mr Bouchaker, telling him that he would ask questions and while the accused was not required to answer, any replies he did make would be written down and may be used as evidence.
When asked for his understanding of the caution, Mr Bouchaker said: “Do not say anything, do not hear anything, do what they tell you.”
After the garda explained the caution a number of times, Mr Bouchaker said he understood that he could answer or refrain from answering. “You are going to ask the questions and whatever is going to happen is in the hands of god,” the accused added.
He said he wanted the gardaí to know that he is sick and added: “I don’t know, I lost my head in this. Whatever you guys want to do, please do.”
As Gda Moran was explaining that they would look after his welfare during his detention, Mr Bouchaker said: “I understand. Do whatever you want guys. What happened is a mistake.”
He added: “I did something that I don’t know what it is. I don’t know what’s happened. I don’t know what I did and I found myself with blood and whatever you guys do, I agree with you.”
Gda Moran said he wanted the truth, not for the accused to agree with him. Mr Bouchaker spoke about his brother and made a gesture that the interpreter said meant that people were taking care of him. Mr Bouchaker pointed upwards, which the interpreter said was a reference to god. He said Mr Bouchaker was welcoming “whatever comes from god”.
Mr Bouchaker spoke about a shoulder injury he had sustained and about a letter he received regarding a disability allowance.
Gda Moran asked Mr Bouchaker to tell him what happened on the day of the alleged stabbings. He said: “I know I did something. I had something.”
He pointed at his shoulder and talked about a letter refusing him a disability allowance. He added: “I found myself with a knife and I found myself alone. And I told myself, what did I do? What did I do?”
Gda Moran asked him to say what he did. Mr Bouchaker replied: “I don’t know. You are police officers and you know. I did not want to kill. I did this.” His interpreter explained that Mr Bouchaker made a “gesture of stabbing three or four times”.
Mr Bouchaker continued: “Whatever you guys want to do, do it please. Their families would say that I wanted to do. Please do whatever you want to me.”
Mr Finnegan told the jury that Mr Bouchaker was interviewed seven times in total. They will hear Mr Bouchaker’s second interview tomorrow followed by his final interview. Memos of the other interviews will be read to the jury.
Mr Bouchaker, of no fixed address, is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, and assault causing serious harm to crèche worker Leanne Flynn, at Parnell Square East in Dublin City on 23 November 2023.
He is further charged with assaulting two other children and a teenager and with producing a knife in a manner likely to intimidate.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and his trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of nine men and three women.