The girlfriend of a young Brazilian man who lost his leg in an incident involving a Garda car on the M50 has said they feel “powerless” waiting for answers on what happened.

23-year-old João Ferreira was among a group of delivery workers trying to track down a stolen motorbike when the incident happened in late October.

They had fitted the bike with a tracking device and had informed Gardaí about what they were doing and where the bike was.

Eventually, the group tracked the bike to the M50 on-ramp close to the Tallaght exit, where it is understood the Gardaí had already arrived.

It is understood João was struck by a Garda car that arrived on the scene shortly afterwards.

Gardaí and the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC) are now investigating the incident.

João, meanwhile, was rushed to hospital where doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs.

"Brutal"

On Lunchtime Live this afternoon, João’s girlfriend Júlia Langneck said he is still receiving treatment nearly seven weeks later.

“Unfortunately, it was very brutal what happened,” she said.

“The doctor said it was impossible to save the leg at the time, so they amputated the leg on the same day.

“He doesn't have the knee, so all down from the knee, you know, it’s just like have half off from the knee.”

Mental blow

Julia said doctors are still working on João’s leg after deciding further surgery was necessary – adding that the mental aspect of it all is really draining on him.

“They are trying to take care of this in the best way possible, but unfortunately, in terms of psychology, he is not really so well for the moment,” she said.

“The mental part is very affected now in terms of trying to deal with everything.”

Julia said João has now been in hospital for over 45 days – and the family is not sure they will be able to get him home for Christmas.

“We are just waiting for the doctor to have something done,” she said.

“We are trying to get him home at least before Christmas but we don't know; they don't have a date yet for that.”

Investigations

She said the family has heard very little from the Gardaí since João’s father was in Ireland.

“There is not much update to be honest in relation to that,” she said. “They just said they are investigating.

“It is very stressing because we feel powerless here, you know, that we don't have any power to say something or to do something.

“You know, it's hard to believe and it's hard to communicate sometimes.”

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has confirmed an investigation is underway.