Six-year-old Daithi Mac Gabhann has been awarded the freedom of Belfast City following his family’s campaign for changes to organ donation laws.
The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) legislation, also called Daithi’s Law after the Belfast boy, changes the way consent for donation is granted and came into effect on Thursday.
Most adults in Northern Ireland are now considered potential organ donors.
If you're passing by City Hall today, you'll notice a circus big top – part of today's Freedom of City event for @Donate4Daithi 🎪
Our west lawn is closed today for this ticket-only event, but City Hall is still open for visiting, along with our grounds at Donegall Sq East. pic.twitter.com/f4TfxvkIrs
— Belfast City Council (@belfastcc) June 3, 2023
The intent of the new legislation is to increase the current number of organs available to people in need of a transplant.
Adults are now deemed to have given consent as a potential organ donor after their death unless they choose to opt-out or are in an excluded group.
Daithi has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since 2018, and his family have campaigned for a move towards soft opt-out law and to promote organ donation.
Opt-out organ donation became law in Northern Ireland yesterday.
All adults in NI will now be considered potential donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group.
Here's what the law change means to Máirtín MacGabhann, father of six-year old Dáithí👇 pic.twitter.com/szxfjy4RNQ
— Department of Health (@healthdpt) June 2, 2023
Belfast City Council said the decision to bestow the city’s highest honour on the six-year-old is in recognition of his campaign.
The Lord Mayor and Belfast City Council conferred the Freedom of the City onto Daithi at an event at Belfast City Hall on Saturday evening.
A circus-style big top tent was erected on the front lawns of City Hall to welcome Daithi’s friends and family for the event.
