In a poignant update from the parents in Dublin whose young child was viciously stabbed during an incident in Parnell Square in late 2021, it has been shared that she continues to be non-verbal following her ordeal. The little girl, who was only aged five when the attack took place on November 23rd, sustain severe wounds and was kept in Temple Street Children’s Hospital for an extended period of 281 days till her discharge last month.
Her sixth birthday, a sombre yet hopeful occasion, was observed last week. The tragedy took place in the vicinity of Coláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square, claiming other victims, including two young children and one adult who was looking after them.
This poignant message was disclosed by her parents on the child’s GoFundMe page. As part of the update, they shared she is now six years old but remains non-verbal during her recovery.
They penned, “This week has been a blend of joy and sorrow as our little girl turns six.”
“Just days after her fifth birthday this terrible incident happened. She was at the phase of life where she was meeting her cousins for the first and only time in my hometown and was only a few weeks into her first academic year in junior infants”, they added.
The parents also divulged she was learning to ride a bicycle with the hope of roller skating by her sixth birthday, something that had to be put in the back burner due to her unfortunate predicament.
In an intimate moment detailed in the update, they mentioned using face paint for entertainment and how she was captivated by the butterfly design.
The heartbroken parents drew a parallel between their daughter’s journey and that of a caterpillar undergoing transformation, hoping that she would eventually emerge as a stronger and more adapted individual.
Additionally, they expressed their gratitude towards the general public for their significant fundraising support, amounting to over €110,000, which has proven invaluable in adapting their lifestyle, home, and transport to accommodate their differently-abled child. As a result of these modifications, they were finally able to bring their daughter home from the hospital on weekends with the assistance of their adapted car.
The family is also optimistic about being completely settled in their new home by Christmas, according to the GoFundMe page.
Riad Bouchaker, aged 50, is presently standing trial, facing a triple attempted murder indictment, a charge of possession and creation of a kitchen blade, three counts of assault inflicting injury, and an accusation of assault that resulted in severe damage. Following the event in November, the city witnessed a surge of extreme right-wing rallies that were quickly succeeded by riots, incendiary incidents, violent skirmishes with the police, and the vandalism of retail stores.