Northern Ireland

Dublin stabbing: 'I am an immigrant and I was there to protect Irish people' - Deliveroo driver from Brazil intervenes in knife attack

Caio Benicio, a Deliveroo driver, is at the scene in Dublin city centre after he witnessed the incident on Parnell Square East, where five people were injured, including three young children. Picture by Brian Lawless, PA
Caio Benicio, a Deliveroo driver, is at the scene in Dublin city centre after he witnessed the incident on Parnell Square East, where five people were injured, including three young children. Picture by Brian Lawless, PA

A Deliveroo driver in Dublin from Brazil has been praised for his heroism after using his bike helmet to hit a man who attacked a woman and three children in Dublin city centre on Thursday.

A five-year-old girl and a women in her 30s were seriously injured in the attack outside the Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, while police say a man in his 40s who was injured in the attack is a person of interest.

Father-of-two Caio Benicio from Rio de Janeiro moved to Ireland a year ago and intervened when he witnessed what he believed to be a fight on Parnell Street.

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Caio Benicio from Brazil was doing his shift as a Deliveroo driver in Dublin when he witnessed a knife attack against children on Parnell Street. He quickly intervened by using his helmet to hit the attacker and later criticised anti-immigrant protestors. (RTÉ News)
Caio Benicio from Brazil was doing his shift as a Deliveroo driver in Dublin when he witnessed a knife attack against children on Parnell Street. He quickly intervened by using his helmet to hit the attacker and later criticised anti-immigrant protestors. (RTÉ News)

Speaking to RTÉ, he said: "I was working like a normal day. And I was passing by in Parnell Square when I saw…at first I thought it was a fight with a man and a woman. A normal fight like, you know, and I slowed down my motorcycle to see more closely what's happening."

He saw a woman who was "pulling the girl, you know. And she was very, very brave, you know, because you could get the girl from the man, and the little girl run away and the man he grabbed another one."

The scene in Dublin city centre after five people were injured, including three young children (Brian Lawless/PA)
The scene in Dublin city centre after five people were injured, including three young children (Brian Lawless/PA)

After noticing the man had a knife, he added: “I just pull up, I just break my bike and pull up my motorcycle. I saw him stab the little girl.

"And it was everything by instinct. I remember, I took off my helmet, to protect myself and use it as a weapon. Just hit him in the head with all power I have. And he fell down. And I hit him and then come other people and start to to kick him, you know."

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He spoke to gardaí afterwards, stating: "I was in shock. I didn't even have time to be scared. You know, when we see a man with a knife with a five-years-old kid. You don't. You don't think you just...just act. I think anyone is gonna do the same."

An Garda Siochana at the scene of rioting in Dublin city centre (Brian Lawless/PA)
An Garda Siochana at the scene of rioting in Dublin city centre (Brian Lawless/PA)

Shaken by the incident, he went home and was horrified as images of rioting and destruction emerged from the city centre.

"There are protests against immigrants and I am an immigrant and I was there, right there to protect Irish people you know,” he said.

"They don't even know what's happened. I think the people there on the streets like put fire on the garda car and they should know what happened before, you know.

"We are here to work. Most of the people are here to work hard. And make the economy of the country go better. The work we do here is good for the country. It's good for themselves, you know, they just have hate."

Tánaiste Micheál Martin praised Mr Benicio, saying his actions "should not be forgotten" and that he may have saved other children from attack.

"We had a horrific, violent attack on children and adults, we think of them, and we think of the Deliveroo person who came along to save the situation, perhaps for other children," he said.