Deliveroo hero turned local election candidate Caio Benicio has said Fianna Fáil is not “using” him and everyone is “working together”.
On November 23rd, 2023, Mr Benicio intervened in a knife attack on Parnell Street that left a young girl and woman in critical condition and injured two other children.
Stopping the assailant with his helmet shot Mr Benicio to fame, with a GoFundMe to “buy Caio a pint” reaching roughly €370,000.
Six months later, Mr Benicio has stepped into the spotlight once again after announcing he will run for local elections as a Fianna Fáil candidate for Dublin North Inner City.
Speaking to The Pat Kenny Show today, he said his friends think he is “mad” for not enjoying the money that was raised for him on a “beach in Rio”.
“It's funny, but I went to Rio to spend Christmas time with my family,” he said.
“There were some journalists [who put] in the newspaper ‘One way ticket to Rio’ and I wasn’t comfortable with that.
“I have to give back to all those people who expect me to be their voice.
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“After the knife attack and the protest, I realised my action was an instant action that very meaningful for many people.
“Not just for the Brazilian community, but for other immigrants as well... that responsibility is nothing I ask for, but it’s on my shoulder now.
“Politics is the best way to have the power to help people.”
Benicio in Fianna Fáil
Explaining why he is running under Fianna Fáil, Mr Benicio explained Fianna Fáil candidate and fellow Brazilian Isabel Oliveira got in touch with him.
“She told me Fianna Fáil is the first party that has open talks about immigrant networks and then she introduced me to Mary Fitzpatrick.
“She was asking me about politics in Brazil and how it works – I told her it is very polarising.
“She introduced me to people from the Fianna Fáil party and [I thought] ‘Why not?’.”
'We have quite the same values'
Mr Benicio said he is well aware of the surprised reaction from many that he had joined Fianna Fáil.
“People may say I'm using the party,” he said. “People may say the party is using me.
“But the truth is, we all work together – we have quite the same values, the same ideas.
“I have the freedom to fight for what I believe and in politics, you can’t do everything by yourself.”
Mr Benicio plans to be a local representative that is constantly on the ground, helping people in his area.
“I have very good experience,” he said. “I was working for Deliveroo – I'm not afraid of the rain.”
Local elections take place on June 7th.
