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Image: Conor McCrave/TheJournal.ie
Image: Conor McCrave/TheJournal.ie
Updated Sep 2nd 2020, 7:36 PM
CROWDS HAVE GATHERED at the Spire in Dublin City centre this evening to pay tribute to Thiago Cortes, a Deliveroo delivery driver who was killed following a hit-and-run on Monday.
A significant crowd of Deliveroo cyclists attended the vigil, along with some other delivery cyclists from Just Eat and Uber Eats.
After his death was confirmed today, friends and colleagues began paying tribute across social media to the Brazilian native who was living and working in Dublin.
A colleague and friend of Thiago at the vigil told TheJournal.ie that Thiago was “a good man”, “a friendly guy” who would do anything to help his community.
He called on Gardaí to bring to justice those who were responsible for his friend’s death, emphasising that it was a hit-and-run.
He said that Deliveroo cyclists were feeling “scared”, but this is the first time a driver has been killed in the years he has been working.
Another colleague and friend described Thiago as “a very nice guy”.
He didn’t deserve any of this… it’s very sad.
When asked if he was worried about his life, he said:
“We are driver professionals. There are people who use the streets as ‘I have to go from one place to another’. And we use the streets to make money.”
The young man’s father also took to Facebook to express his heartbreak at the loss of his son.
“It will be impossible to forget the day they stole from me the most precious asset. Today my dear son passed away, revolt me as death took him so unexpectedly,” he wrote.
“It’s hard to face this reality when it was about someone so young, with so many things still to live for. But life has never been fair and I will try to get attached every day to the best memories so that a little peace can invade my heart.
“Rest in peace my dear son, someday we will meet again.”
In a statement, a Deliveroo spokesperson said: “This is a tragedy and a terrible loss. Our deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with the family and friends of the rider.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that the family of the rider is supported during this extremely difficult time.”
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The incident happened at about 10.30pm on Monday when the cyclist was struck by a car.
A car understood to have been involved in the incident was abandoned by the driver and recovered by gardaí at Castleforbes Square a short time later.
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