Deliveroo driver who intervened in Dublin knife attack offers support to injured girl
Caio Benicio. The father-of-two, who arrived in Ireland a year ago, has been hailed a hero after using his helmet to intervene in the knife attack. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
The hero Deliveroo driver who stopped the Dublin city knife attacker has offered his support to the little girl who was stabbed.
More than €360,000 has been raised for Caio Benicio in the wake of the attack last Thursday.
Mr Benicio used his helmet to intervene in the knife attack outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East to hit the attacker.
A 5-year-old girl remains critical in hospital.
His heroic actions led to a GoFundMe page being set up entitled 'Buy Caio Benicio a pint'.
In an update on the page, Mr Benicio wrote: "Thank you so much to everyone who has donated over the last few days.
It has been so overwhelming seeing all of your support and I am so grateful.
"I wanted to share with you all that I have been in contact with the family of the little girl and I have offered to assist them in any way I can."
Mr Benicio explained that they have yet to accept the offer, but it is his "intention to support them the way you have all supported me".
It has also transpired that Mr Benicio moved to Ireland to find work after his restaurant in Brazil was gutted in a devastating fire.
He had to leave his wife and two children behind after being unable to fund the repair of the damage to the trendy lounge bar and eatery in the November 2019 blaze.
Reports at the time pointed to a possible electrical overload being to blame, with witnesses claiming an electricity pylon caught fire before the flames spread to an awning and wood in the facade of the premises and then reached the kitchen and caused a gas canister to explode.
An investigation was launched but it was not immediately clear if it had ever confirmed why the fire started.
The fire is understood to have been behind Mr Benicio’s decision to move abroad to find work so he could continue to be the breadwinner for his family.
Overnight the Brazilian hero’s wife Clara, who has stayed behind in their homeland with their daughter Lara, 18, and son Breno 12, appeared to suggest the former restaurant owner would now be able to rejoin his family and start afresh with the money donated.
Speaking to a Brazilian media outlet, she referred to the anguish her husband would have felt at not having his loved ones close by to share his torment with: “You can imagine the suffering, can’t you?
“Living through that situation and not having anyone there to help you.
“It’s a shame but now for sure we’ll be together.”
His daughter Lara said: “For us as his children, it was very emotional to see my dad performing such a wonderful deed because he put his own life at risk to save the lives of others.”
Breno made his mum and sister laugh by adding: “My dad is my hero but he doesn’t use a cape, he uses a helmet.”
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.
Two other children injured in the attack have been released from hospital.
