Over €190,000 has been raised for a Brazilian man who helped halt a knife attack on children in central Dublin on Thursday that triggered major street violence by anti-immigrant activists who believe the attacker was foreign.
One of three young children stabbed on the street outside their school remains in a critical condition, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said on Friday, but authorities have not announced the nationality of the attacker nor determined his motivation.
In an apparent rebuff to anti-immigrant commentary online and from some violent protesters, a fundraiser on gofundme.com for immigrant Brazilian motorbike delivery driver Caio Benicio – dubbed "Buy Caio Benicio a pint" - has raised €194,000.
Benicio has recounted in interviews how he helped disable the attacker, a man in his 50s, by hitting him in the head with his motorbike helmet.
Another fundraiser has raised €81,000 for a creche worker who was collecting the children and who helped keep the attacker from them.
Gardaí made 34 arrests following the overnight rioting that saw shop windows smashed and police cars and buses burnt. They have blamed far-right agitators for starting the violence.
