Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 30221Dangerous driving causing death · Co. Dublin · 31 Aug 2020

Teen sentenced for dangerous driving causing death in Dublin

On August 31, 2020, Thiago Cortes, a 28-year-old Brazilian man, was struck and killed by a car at North Wall Quay in Dublin city centre. He died in hospital on September 2, 2020. The driver, a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, drove away from the scene, and after his mother's home was searched he voluntarily attended a garda station; he later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and has been in a detention centre since December 2020. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of two years' detention in a juvenile facility.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Thiago Cortes, 28, a Brazilian man working as a Deliveroo courier, was struck and killed by a car as he attempted to turn right.
  • The driver went through a red light at 79km/h in a 50km/h zone, with some evidence of braking just before impact.
  • Witnesses heard loud music from the car and saw it overtake a lorry at speed just before the collision.
  • The driver drove away, abandoned the car in a nearby square and fled with other young passengers.
  • The car had been bought on the day of the incident from an unregistered dealer.
Where
The collision occurred at North Wall Quay in Dublin city centre, though one report places it near the 3Arena.
When
The collision occurred on August 31, 2020, and Cortes died in hospital on September 2, 2020.
Investigation
  • Extensive CCTV footage was gathered.
  • Glass fibres were found on the accused's clothes and his DNA was found on bottles in the car.
  • The accused voluntarily attended a garda station after his mother's home was searched.
Charges
The 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
In court
The accused has been in a detention centre since December 2020.
Sentence
Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of two years' detention in a juvenile facility.
Other details
Cortes came from Brazil to study English, and friends and his girlfriend Teresa Dantas held a memorial at the Spire in Dublin on the first anniversary.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThiago Cortes, 28, was struck and killed by a car in a hit-and-run in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe driver was travelling at 79km/h in a 50km/h zone. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThiago Cortes died in hospital on September 2, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused drove through a red light and struck Cortes as he was attempting to turn right. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe traffic light had been red for two seconds and orange for three seconds prior to the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThere was some evidence of braking by the car just prior to the impact. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused drove away from the scene and abandoned the car in a nearby square before fleeing with other young passengers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe car had been purchased on the same day as the incident from an unregistered dealer. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA witness heard loud music coming from the car prior to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnother witness saw the car overtake a lorry at speed just prior to the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused has been in a detention centre since December 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThiago Cortes came from Brazil to study English and was working as a courier for Deliveroo at the time of his death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatFriends gathered with girlfriend Teresa Dantas at a memorial event at the Spire in Dublin on the first anniversary. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe collision occurred at North Wall Quay in Dublin city centre. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe collision occurred on August 31, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationExtensive CCTV footage was gathered. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe accused voluntarily attended at a garda station following his mother's home being searched. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGlass fibres were found on the accused's clothes and his DNA was found on bottles in the car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe teen pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of the Brazilian native. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of two years' detention in a juvenile facility. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Sep2021
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Dad of Deliveroo cyclist killed in hit and run speaks on first anniversary

    First anniversary tribute; father speaks from Brazil; detailed account of court proceedings, sentencing by Judge Martin Nolan, and victim impact statement from fiancée Teresa Dantas Oliveira included.

    victim, Thiago Cortes, 28, male, Brazilian, non-irishThiago Cortesconvicted, 16, male