Gardaí have taken more than 200 statements in the “complex” case of a man charged with the attempted murder of two young girls and a boy in a knife attack in Dublin in November, a court has heard.
A girl, aged five, was left in a serious condition after a stabbing on the afternoon of 23 November at Parnell Square in the city centre.
The two other children were released from hospital.
Creche worker Leanne Flynn Keogh, from Dublin, was also seriously injured during the incident.
Riad Bouchaker, 50, of no fixed abode, was charged on 21 December and held in custody following a brief hearing.
He appeared before Cloverhill District Court via video link today.
Judge Alan Mitchell asked why the book of evidence was not ready.
A State solicitor replied that it was “a large file, judge, with over 200 statements” and a “large amount of exhibits and medical evidence”.
Judge Mitchell said they could be served subsequently but noted that it was a “complex file”.
He heard that the adjournment had been agreed with the defence, and the prosecution could not say if the book of evidence would be ready on the next date.
He put the case back for four weeks and remanded the accused in continuing custody, and “because of the seriousness and complexity” of the case, he extended time for the book of evidence.
A book of evidence needs to be served on a defendant before granting a trial order.
The accused listened to the proceedings with the aid of an Arabic interpreter and spoke just once to give his name at the start of the hearing.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed a trial on indictment. That means the case is to go before the Central Criminal Court due to the nature of the charges.
