A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin has viewed CCTV footage showing the moment a man attacked a group of children with a knife on Parnell Square on 23 November 2023. The footage, presented by Garda John Heatherton, showed the man, dressed in black, approaching children waiting in line outside a school for an after-school crèche.
The attack left three children and two adults injured. One of the children, a five-year-old girl, was seriously injured and later discharged from hospital. A care assistant, Leanne Flynn, was also injured while intervening. The suspect, a man in his 50s, was subdued by members of the public and arrested at the scene.
The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt. The defendant has been charged with attempted murder and assault causing harm. The court has heard that the attack was not motivated by terrorism, but the full circumstances remain under examination.
