Dublin stabbings: Parents given advice on how to comfort traumatised kids

Management of the Dublin school where three children were stabbed last week held a meeting on Monday for parents and guardians to discuss ways to support pupils who are traumatised by the incident.

More than 50 people attended the 9am meeting at a Dublin hotel, which was organised by Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Street in Dublin’s north inner city.

Five people were injured during the knife attack outside the school last Thursday, including three children. A 5-year-old girl remains critical in hospital.

The suspect, a man in his late 50s, as well as an innocent creche worker in her 30s, who used her body as a human shield to protect the children, are also being treated in hospital.

On Monday, parents arrived at the hotel to hear ways to support their children in the aftermath of the attack on their school friends.

“We were told about play therapy and art, and to let the kids say how they feel if that’s what they want. The kids are asking questions,” one parent told the Irish Examiner.

“We were also told to let them paint and draw it all out if that helps. Everyone is so sickened by the whole thing. I think people can’t fully wrap their heads around it yet.”

Gardaí at the scene of the incident last week. Picture: Colin Keegan / Collins Photos

Gardaí at the scene of the incident last week. Picture: Colin Keegan / Collins Photos

Another guardian said: “People are just very shocked, the kids are not really sure what is going on. It’s all about the riots the riots, but what about the kids, and the creche worker, and the parents?”

The incident unfolded on Thursday at around lunchtime shortly after a man was seen acting irrationally near the school just off O’Connell Street.

He then produced a knife and stabbed three children, two girls, aged 5 and 6, and a boy aged 5, while brave daycare worker Leanne Flynn was also critically injured during the incident.

“Leanne brings the kids to the afterschool. She came out and tried to protect the kids, and she ended up critical in hospital, but she is getting better, thank God. Everyone is just praying,” a parent said

Ms Flynn’s condition in the Mater hospital is now described as serious but stable while the 5-year-old child remains critical.

The other two children have been discharged to the care of their families, while the suspect remains in a Dublin hospital.

In a statement, gardaí told the Irish Examiner there are “no updates at this time”.

A small vigil for the children and Ms Flynn took place outside Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire at 8pm on Sunday.

A vigil is expected to take place at 1pm today at the GPO on O’Connell Street.

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