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The family of a young girl who was gravely injured in a stabbing incident on Parnell Square have shared that she is making "great progress" as she celebrates her seventh birthday. The seven year old was critically injured outside a Gaelscoil on Dublin's Parnell Square in November 2023. Two other children and heroic creche worker Leanne Flynn Keogh, who also sustained injuries, were treated in hospital before being discharged. A GoFundMe page, named Barróg do Chailín Beag or a Hug For A Little Girl, was established for the young girl, with her family providing updates on her health as donations continue to pour into the fundraiser. To date, it has raised nearly €140,000. The young girl was discharged from Temple Street Hospital on 30 August 2024, after 281 days, and in May of this year, her family announced that she is now back at school full time. In the most recent update, her family described how it's almost as if she transformed into a "beautiful and kind butterfly" as she turned seven, and is making "great progress" in her recovery as the two-year anniversary of the dreadful attack approaches, reports the Irish Mirror . An update on the GoFundMe page from last week read: "A lot has happened since the last update. Our girl has turned seven!". "There was a misconception that all of our cells change every seven years, but I like to think that for our angel, this has some truth to it... It is almost as if she was in a cocoon when she got injured and she is morphing into a beautiful and kind butterfly. "This birthday was special because we got to spend it at home with family and friends, no PPE in sight, and lots of cake tasting. "She has gotten much better at swallowing, and she has since been able to eat a few spoons of her dad's mash potato, some mash bananas, strawberries, and scrambled eggs. It doesn't make a meal, but the hope is to get there in the next few months. "She has also become much better at focusing her attention when directed; this means, if we ask her to look somewhere, she does it almost immediately. "She has been making lots of new sounds, and it is much clearer to see when she mouths words and phrases like 'I want', 'I don't know' , yes, yeah, no. "We have taken a break from assisted walking to strengthen her hips through squats and standing for longer. "It all sounds slow, but it is great progress. We are coming to the two-year anniversary of the attack, and we are more hopeful, for sure. She is a trooper and has a strong mind." The fundraising appeal has dramatically exceeded the original goal of €500, amassing an incredible €139,830 from generous contributions. To donate, head here. Riad Bouchaker (50), of no fixed abode, is currently before the courts 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. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here
