Gardaí investigating a knife attack in Dublin city centre have taken more than 200 statements, a court has heard.
A man has been charged with the attempted murder of two young girls and a boy during the incident at Parnell Square in Dublin's north inner city on November 23rd last year.
A girl (five) was left in a serious condition, while the two other children were released from hospital shortly after the incident. A care worker was also seriously injured during the incident.
Riad Bouchaker (50), of no fixed abode, was charged in connection with the incident on December 21st.
He appeared before Cloverhill District Court via video link on Thursday.
Judge Alan Mitchell asked why the book of evidence was not ready, to which 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 it was a "complex file".
He heard an adjournment had been agreed with the defence. However, the prosecution said it could not say if the book of evidence would be ready by the date of the next hearing.
'Seriousness and complexity'
The judge put the case back for four weeks and remanded the accused in continuing custody. Due to the "seriousness and complexity" of the case, he extended the time by which the book of evidence should be submitted.
The book of evidence must be served on a defendant before a trial order can be granted.
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, indicating the trial should be heard by the Central Criminal Court due to the series nature of the charges.
At the first hearing in December, Dublin District Court heard the accused made "no reply" when charged with "attempted murder of a female child".
In reply to a second charge of the attempted murder of another girl, Mr Bouchaker said: "I am a sick person."
The court heard he made no reply when charged with the attempted murder of the boy, nor did he respond to the charges of assault causing harm to another boy and girl and a French national, or assault causing serious harm to the care worker and another person at the scene.
In reply to the final charge over the production of a 36cm kitchen knife, the accused again told gardaí: "I am a sick person."
The District Court does not have the power to consider bail in an attempted murder case, which requires a High Court application.
Mr Bouchaker was granted legal aid and an order was made that he receive medical attention while in custody.
The media has also been directed not to report the identity of Mr Bouchaker's legal team due to "safety concerns", and the order was continued in court on Thursday.
The incident triggered a wave of unrest in Dublin city on the night of November 23rd. A number of vehicles were set on fire, and shops and businesses in parts of the city were looted.
More than 40 people were arrested in connection with the riots, about 30 of whom have already been charged and are before the courts.
