Family of young man killed in O'Connell Street crash pay heartbreaking tribute
The family of a young man who was killed in a crash on O’Connell Street has paid a heartbreaking tribute to him.
Johnny Santos Xavier De Abreu, 27, was killed following the tragic crash involving an electric bike and a cement mixer at the junction of Abbey Street and O’Connell Street, Dublin City, on Wednesday afternoon.
Johnny, a student from Brazil, had been in Ireland for only three weeks when the collision occurred.
The family of a young man who was killed in a crash in O’Connell Street have paid a heartbreaking tribute to him. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie
In a heartbreaking tribute, Johnny’s sister Isabela Xavier said that he was in Ireland to chase his dreams, and thanked him for being ‘the best uncle’ for her daughter.
‘Thank you for everything. For being who you were, and for being the best uncle my daughter could have asked for,’ Isabela wrote on social media. ‘My heart is breaking. I’ll love you from here to eternity. I’m speechless.’
Isabela said that her brother had come to Ireland to study and work, and was on his way to school when the tragic collision occurred. He also only had one friend in Ireland, and no family.
Johnny Santos Xavier De Abreu, 27, was tragically killed after he was involved in a collision with a cement mixer at the junction between Abbey Street and O’Connell Street in Dublin City Centre. Pic: Instagram
‘My mum always told me that a child is prepared to bury a mother, but a mother is never prepared to bury her child,’ she added, saying that their mother is ‘distraught’ at her son’s death.
‘Just imagine your son dying, 12 hours away in another country, so far from her.’
A fundraiser to help repatriate Johnny’s body back to Brazil has raised over 70,000 Brazilian Real (approx €11,800), while Gardaí continue their appeal for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.
Johnny had arrived in Ireland only a few weeks earlier when the tragedy occurred. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie
Anyone who may have been in the area of Middle Abbey Street and O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on Wednesday (April 1) are asked to contact Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on (01) 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
