Caio Benicio, the delivery driver who sprang to action during Thursday's knife attack in Dublin, says he has offered to use donations from the viral GoFundMe "Buy Caio Benicio a pint” to support the young victim of the attack.
"Thank you so much to everyone who has donated over the last few days," Benicio wrote on the GoFundMe page today, November 28, which has raised more than €365k.
"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.
"They have yet accept this offer, but it is my intention to support them the way you have all supported me."
Benicio’s update on the GoFundMe page was shared two days after Paul Darcy, the organizer of the GoFundMe, posted this message he received from Benicio: "I didn't have the opportunity to thank you for creating the gofund me
"I really appreciate that
"That shows how generous and friendly is Irish people
"I didn't even know that was going on when my friend told me.
"I am deeply from my heart greatfull to you and for all the people who contributed with the gofund me
"Wish you all the best my friend."
Darcy added that Benicio explained in his message how "he plans to spend some of the money to help others affected by the tragedy but I left that out because that's his private business."
Elsewhere on the "Buy Caio Benicio a pint” page, Darcy linked to the GoFundMe hub of the seven verified fundraisers that have been launched in the wake of Thursday's knife attack and subsequent riots in Dublin City Center.
Aside from 'Buy Caio Benicio a pint,' the other verified GoFundMe pages are: Support Hero Carer & Children Attacked In Dublin, Standing Against Racism and Supporting MASI, Support for Small Bike Shop Business in Dublin, Róisín Fundraiser, Buy Alan Loren-Guille a pint (hero), and Help Fix The Dublin Businesses.
An Garda Síochána said that a serious assault occurred on Parnell Square East in Dublin's City Centre shortly after 1:30 pm on Thursday, November 23.
The incident occurred near Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire.
Three children and a carer from the school, Leanne Flynn, were hospitalized after the attack; the six-year-old girl and the five-year-old boy have since been discharged.
RTÉ reported on Monday that the five-year-old girl remains hospitalized in critical condition, while Flynn remains hospitalized in serious condition.
A man, aged in his 50s, who was arrested at the scene by gardaí before being brought to hospital with injuries, remains in serious condition in hospital as of Monday.
According to RTÉ, Gardaí previously said that they are following a "definite line of enquiry" and are not looking for anyone else at present in connection with the attack.
The scene after the incident on Parnell Square East on November 23. (RollingNews.ie)
Benicio, 43, was riding his motorbike on Parnell Square on Thursday afternoon when he saw a man with a knife attacking young children outside the school.
The Deliveroo driver said he dismounted his bike, took off his helmet, and hit the man with it, causing him to fall to the ground and drop the knife.
Benicio told The Journal on Thursday night that he acted on "pure instinct" and didn't even think about intervening in the attack.
"I have two kids myself, so I had to do something," he said.
"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."
Benicio said on Thursday night that the was "praying" and "hoping" for the five-year-old girl.
“If a child didn’t survive, I would always think, I could have been faster," he said.
"I chose to have surgery on my knee recently, it made me slow to get off the bike, could I have been faster?
“If all the victims survive, I will be thankful that I was in the right place, at the right time,” he said.
Benicio added that he was saddened to see the riots erupt in Dublin on Thursday night: “It looks like they hate immigrants.
"Well I am an immigrant, and I did what I could to try and save that little girl."
Benicio has since met with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and was presented with a Merit Award for bravery from the Brazilian Embassy in Dublin.
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