The man Gardaí are waiting to speak to in connection with the Parnell Square stabbing attack has woken up from his coma.

The man is not yet fit to be interviewed but is now awake and breathing by himself.

A five-year-old girl has been in critical condition in hospital since the attack, with her mother yesterday thanking the public for their support over the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, hero creche worker Leanne Flynn Keogh is out of intensive care after stepping in to try and save the girl.

Two other children aged five and six who were injured in the attack have since been released from hospital.

An Garda Síochána and emergency services at the scene of the stabbing incident on Dublin's Parnell Square East, 23/11/2023. Image Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Irish Daily Star Crime Correspondent Michael O'Toole said the chief suspect in the attack has now awoken from his coma.

He said the man was placed in an induced coma in hospital after suffering significant head injuries on the day.

“There were fears that his injuries were extremely serious and it would be quite some time before Gardaí would get to speak to him, but I think it was yesterday or the day before, he came out of the coma,” he said.

“He was taken off the induced coma and significantly, he's awake and he's breathing by himself.

“Now, he is still seriously ill and Gardaí will not be able to question him immediately, but the guidance I was given yesterday was perhaps by the end of this week, maybe the start of next week.”

23/11/2023 Dublin, Ireland. An Garda Síochána and emergency services at the scene of a serious incident on Parnell Square East. According to reports, at least three children were taken to hospital following a suspected stabbing incident, and a man is being treated at the scene. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

Mr O’Toole noted that in situations like this, it is not for the Gardaí to decide when the man can be interviewed but Gardaí expect the green light “sooner rather than later”.

“It won't be a month; it won't be a couple of weeks,” he said. “It could be the end of this week or start of next week.”

Mr O’Toole said Gardaí have been “doing a deep dive” into the man’s background since the attack – and have analysed his phone and laptop.

In a message on GoFundMe yesterday, the mother of the little girl who remains in hospital said she has “shown incredible strength and [is] still here with us”.