LAST UPDATE | 23 Nov 2023
FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING three young children, have been hospitalised in a suspected stabbing near a school in Dublin city centre this afternoon.
Two of the injured people – a woman (30s) and a young girl (5) – have sustained serious injuries, An Gardaí Siochána said.
The girl is receiving emergency treatment in hospital.
Two other children who received less serious injuries were brought to CHI Crumlin for treatment. The boy (5) has since been discharged from CHI Crumlin.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty has said investigators are satisfied the attack is not terror-related. A man (50s) who is believed to be responsible for the attack is being treated in hospital for serious injuries.
Gardaí are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.
The attack happened as the junior and senior infant children were being lined up to go to the creche for an after-school club. The Journal understands that the injured woman is a staff member from the creche.
A number of passers-by intervened in the attack to subdue the attacker and prevent him from injuring anyone else.
Many emergency services attended the scene at Parnell Square East from just after 1pm.
The Journal spoke with one grandmother who had collected her five-year-old granddaughter from the school – Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire – minutes before the incident happened.
“It’s her classmates. I’m just in shock. I just hope the kids are alright, and the teachers,” she said.
“They’re not letting us know anything. We’re hearing all different stories.
“The principal said he [the attacker] started slashing the knife like that… and at the kids. That’s all I know. I didn’t see it happen.”
A senior government source also confirmed that the incident is not believed to be terror-related.
Large numbers of parents of children from the school gathered at either end of the cordon, anxiously looking for information about their children.
Anthony Boyle, who lives on nearby North Frederick Street, said the scene was “absolutely devastating”.
He described the number of garda vehicles at the scene as “the biggest response I have ever seen” by emergency services.
He said onlookers to the attack were “screaming” and described the scene as “horrific”.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has been briefed by the Garda Commissioner on the attack.
“I am deeply shocked by the appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman in Dublin today,” she said in a statement. “The attack has shocked us all and I have no doubt that the person responsible will be brought to justice.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he is being updated by McEntee on the situation.
“The facts in this matter are still emerging,” he said in a statement. “The emergency services responded very quickly and were on site within minutes. I thank them for that.”
Minister Paschal Donohoe called it “the very darkest of days” for those involved.
Donohoe said it was also a “dark day for our country overall” and added that it is the “worst possible nightmare for all of us”.
Sinn Féin leader and local TD Mary Lou McDonald said in a statement she was “shocked and horrified” at the incident on Parnell Square.
She said her thoughts and prayers are with the families and with the staff in Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire.
Parnell Square East is a busy transit route that runs through the north of Dublin City Centre and onto O’Connell Street.
The scene at the attack remained tense this evening, as people approached the garda cordon to shout at the assembled gardaí.
The crowd also blocked traffic, including Luas and vehicles travelling northbound on O’Connell Street, causing traffic disruption in the city centre.
“You should be f*cking ashamed of yourselves,” one man shouted. “They’re not the worst, it’s the politicians,” another yelled. Another shouted Ashling Murphy’s name at gardaí.
The Stardust inquests which was taking place in the nearby Rotunda Hospital, which is partly located on Parnell Square East, has been suspended until tomorrow due to the incident.
Coroner Myra Cullinane told the jury that a “very significant tragic event” had occurred at the perimeter of the hospital grounds.
“There have been very significant injuries of note,” she said.
With reporting by Mairead Maguire and Eimer McAuley on Parnell Square East; and Christine Bohan, Muiris O’Cearbhaill, Niall O’Connor and Nicky Ryan.
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