“Absolute hero.”
There have been calls for the Brazilian Deliveroo driver who stopped the knife attack on Parnell Square to be given Freedom of the City.
Caio Benicio, a 43-year-old delivery driver from Brazil, was on the street when the attack took place yesterday (November 23) afternoon.
He stepped in to subdue the attacker with his helmet and has since detailed his experience.
Brazilian Deliveroo driver speaks about how he stopped Parnell Street attacker.
“I didn’t even make a decision, it was pure instinct, and it was all over in seconds,” Benicio told The Journal.
“He fell to the ground, I didn’t see where the knife went, and other people stepped in.”
Benicio, who came to Ireland for work after his restaurant burned down in Brazil, said that he used his helmet as a weapon to disarm the attacker.
“I have two kids myself, so I had to do something. I did what anyone would do.
“People were there, but they couldn’t step in because he was armed. But I knew I could use my helmet as a weapon.”
He also said he was praying for the victims.
“I am praying, it’s all I am thinking of. I saw her in the ambulance, she looked so vulnerable, I had to go with Gardaí then,” he said.
Benicio also said that he was saddened to see the anti-immigrant sentiment that has been on display in a night of unrest in Dublin.
“It looks like they hate immigrants. Well I am an immigrant, and I did what I could to try and save that little girl,” he said.
Taking to X in the aftermath of Benicio’s bravery, one person wrote: “Absolute hero. Freedom of the city would be a start, I’d say give him citizenship.”
Freedom of the city to this lad. Next week, .@daithideroiste. https://t.co/m4Y9yV9KOZ
— Village Magazine (@VillageMagIRE) November 23, 2023
Absolute hero.
Freedom of the city would be a start I’d say give him citizenship. #IrelandBelongsToTheIrish https://t.co/VrbQXEXWBQ
— Niall O’Hara 🇮🇪 (@ThoughtsToby) November 24, 2023
This brave man should be awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin, @LordMayorDublin https://t.co/KNcPkIbRjO
— Philip O'Sullivan (@pdosullivan) November 24, 2023
Another wrote: “He should be given the freedom of the city. Far better choice than most of the clowns that have got it.”
A third commented: “Freedom of the city for Caio Benicio today.”
(Feature image via The Journal).
Read more:
- Kearney was everything good about Dublin, on a night of national embarrassment
- Bus and Luas set on fire amid unrest in Dublin city centre
- Taoiseach issues statement on suspected Dublin city stabbing that left three children injured
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
