Girl, 5, in Dublin stabbing is out of ICU

THE five-year-old girl who was stabbed outside her school in Dublin city centre is out of intensive care after recently hitting a ‘bump in the road’, her mother has confirmed.

The little girl was left in a critical condition after she was attacked outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East on November 23.

Her family has maintained a bedside vigil in Temple Street Children’s Hospital and received a major boost before Christmas when she was discharged from ICU.

However, in late January, the primary school pupil was put back on life support after suffering a setback.

Her mother has now confirmed that her daughter’s condition has improved once again. ‘Hi everyone, We are back on the ward and almost over this bump in the road,’ she said via GoFundMe.

‘Our little angel is a fighter and we are sure she will come out victorious.

‘We wouldn’t be here had it not been for everyone on that day who gave her the fighting chance.

‘We are forever grateful. And we are also grateful to everyone who has been dedicating their energy, day in and day out, to her and us,’ she said.

The GoFundMe page, called ‘Barróg do Chailín Beag’ (A Hug for a Little Girl), has raised almost €85,000 in support of the five-year-old’s recovery.

In a previous update, the mum said her daughter must ‘relearn everything’ as she continues her recovery in hospital.

She revealed her child has done ‘really well’ despite her serious injuries.

‘Our darling girl has now entered the 3rd phase of her recovery,’ she wrote in December. ‘This will be the longest as she will relearn everything as a result of her injury.

‘She has done really well thus far and the medical team is very happy with her improvement.

‘Once again, she is so strong and we are proud to be by her side supporting her, guiding her, and, above all, loving her every step of the way,’ she added.

Two other children injured on November 23, aged five and six, were released from hospital soon after the incident.

Crèche worker Leanne Flynn Keogh, from Dublin, was also seriously injured during the attack outside Choláiste Mhuire.

Among the heroes on the scene who helped the victims of the knife attack was Caio Benicio, 43, who has since returned to his native Brazil.

Riad Bouchaker, 50, is currently before the courts in connection with the incident.

He is charged with three counts of attempted murder, one of producing and possessing a kitchen knife, three counts of assault causing harm and one of assault causing serious harm.