Ireland Garda car crash victim on M50 wants to recover in Brazil
On Saturday 28 October 2023, at around 3:30pm, João Henrique Ferreira, 23, a Brazilian national, was struck by a garda car on the M50 in Tallaght, Dublin, while searching for his stolen bicycle with friends. He was treated at the scene and taken to Tallaght Hospital with life-changing injuries, and he lost part of a leg. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) launched an investigation because a garda vehicle was involved, and a protest took place in Dublin on Monday afternoon. No arrests or charges have been reported. As of 1 November 2023, his mother said he is no longer at risk of dying and the family wants him to return to Brazil with his girlfriend, who has launched a fundraiser for a prosthesis.
- Reported30 Oct
3 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- João Henrique Ferreira, 23, a Brazilian national and delivery driver, was struck by a garda car and lost part of a leg.
- Sources describe him as a pedestrian struck by a garda car, and the car is described as unmarked in one report.
- Where
- The collision happened on the M50 northbound in Tallaght, Dublin, with one source saying close to the M50 in Tallaght.
- When
- The collision happened on Saturday 28 October 2023 at around 3:30pm.
- Cause
- He was reportedly trying to recover his stolen bicycle with friends while officers were responding to his call and trying to arrest the thieves.
- Other details
- He was treated at the scene and then taken to Tallaght Hospital, where he was treated for life-changing injuries.
- His girlfriend launched a fundraiser for a prosthesis that costs between €12,000 and €15,000, which had raised just over a quarter of its €10,000 goal.
- A protest took place in Dublin on Monday afternoon following the collision.
- His mother said he is no longer at risk of dying, and the family wants him to return to Brazil with his girlfriend.
- Investigation
- GSOC, the independent policing watchdog, launched an investigation because a garda vehicle was involved.
- GSOC is asking witnesses for any CCTV, dashcam or mobile footage of the incident, activity or interactions at the time and location.
- Gardaí asked the public not to share an image of the injured man and appealed to anyone with information to contact them.
- Charges
- The articles report no arrests or charges in connection with the collision or the bicycle theft.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man was taken to Tallaght Hospital with life-changing injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatReports say a delivery driver lost a leg after being struck by a garda car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJoão Henrique suffered serious injuries following a collision on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man lost a leg following a collision with a garda car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJoao Henrique Ferreira, 23, lost part of his leg after being struck by a Garda car. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereA pedestrian was struck by a Garda car on the M50 northbound in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe collision happened close to the M50 in Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on the M50 in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on a Saturday afternoon at around 3:30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe collision happened at around 3:30pm on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on a Saturday. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeThe man was reportedly trying to recover his stolen bike when the incident occurred. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeHe was reportedly searching for his stolen bicycle with friends. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeOfficers were trying to retrieve his bike and arrest the thieves who stole it. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí have asked people not to share an image of the injured man. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe incident was reported to GSOC because a Garda vehicle was involved. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGSOC wants to speak to witnesses who saw any incident, activity or interactions at the time and location. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGSOC asks for any CCTV, dashcam or mobile footage from witnesses. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí have appealed to anyone with information to contact the authorities. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGSOC has launched an investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe collision is being investigated by GSOC, the independent policing watchdog. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherHe was treated at the scene before being taken to Tallaght Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis girlfriend launched a fundraiser to help pay for his prosthesis. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNew prosthetic legs cost between €12,000 and €15,000 in Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe fundraiser has raised just over a quarter of its €10,000 goal. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA protest took place in Dublin on Monday afternoon following the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim is a delivery driver. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherHis mother says he is no longer at risk of dying. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherHis family wants him to return to Brazil with his girlfriend. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherNew prosthetic legs cost between €12,000 and €15,000. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Nov2023M50 garda crash victim wants to recover in Brazil home
Describes the victim's condition, family comments, GSOC investigation and a fundraiser for a prosthesis; no arrests or charges are reported.
victim, Joao Henrique Ferreira, 23, maleJoao Henrique Ferreira - 31 Oct2023Girlfriend of Brazilian man who lost leg after collision launches fundraiser
Adds that the girlfriend launched a GoFundMe to help pay for a prosthesis costing €12,000 to €15,000, that the man was searching for his stolen bicycle with friends, and that GSOC is investigating. Also reports a protest in Dublin and a widely shared picture of the incident.
victim, João Henrique, male, Brazilian, non-irishJoão Henrique - 30 Oct2023Gardai urge people to avoid sharing picture of M50 crash with garda car
Gardaí ask the public not to share a picture of the injured man. The collision has been reported to GSOC, which is appealing for witnesses and CCTV, dashcam or mobile footage. Adds that the man was reportedly trying to recover a stolen bike.
victim, 20s, male, Brazilian, non-irish