Family of Boy Awaiting Heart Transplant Devastated by Car and Wheelchair Theft in West Belfast
A family already navigating the immense emotional strain of a long wait for a life-saving organ transplant has been further impacted by the theft of their vehicle, along with a vital wheelchair and Christmas gifts.
The family of Daithí Mac Gabhann, a young boy who has spent seven years awaiting a heart transplant and a vocal advocate for organ donation in Northern Ireland, awoke on Wednesday, December 17th, to discover their car was missing. The theft has left the family reeling, particularly as Daithí’s wheelchair, essential for his daily life, was inside the vehicle.
“We’re absolutely devastated, especially at this time of year,” the family shared in a message posted on the Donate 4 Daithí social media pages. “What makes this even harder is that Dáithí’s wheelchair was in the car. He’s now left without it, which has a real impact on his day to day life.”
The stolen vehicle was initially reported missing shortly after 9:00 AM on Wednesday. According to a statement from Sergeant Quinn of the PSNI’s Woodbourne Local Policing Team, a subsequent report came in around 12:00 PM regarding a suspicious vehicle in the Falls Road area. Officers quickly identified the vehicle as the one reported stolen.
A pursuit ensued, culminating in the vehicle being blocked in at the Kennedy Centre in the Andersonstown area of west Belfast. Footage circulating on social media appears to show the driver attempting to evade officers by driving up a grass embankment. During the attempt to stop the vehicle, two police cars and a car owned by a member of the public sustained damage.
Authorities have arrested three individuals in connection with the incident. A 23-year-old man is being held on suspicion of burglary and multiple driving offenses. A 35-year-old woman and a 43-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. All three remain in custody as of this writing.
Beyond the loss of the wheelchair, the theft included a number of Christmas presents intended for Daithí and his family. “Like many families, Christmas presents were in the car too,” the family stated. “We won’t let this ruin the magic for Dáithí, but it’s hard not to feel that something really special has been taken from us.”
The family expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support from the local community in Ballymurphy, as well as from the PSNI and Councillor Michael Donnelly. They are urging anyone with information regarding the theft to contact the police directly.
“We want to say thank you to the community in Ballymurphy for the messages, the support, and for looking out for one another,” they said. “It means more than people realise.” Despite the hardship, the family remains resolute. “We’ll keep going. We always do.”
