Dáithí’s Law of the land

Congratulations to young Cliftonville supporter Dáithí Mac Gabhann and everyone behind the implementation of Dáithí’s Law, which came into formal effect today.

Thanks to the efforts of six-year-old Dáithí’s family and the dedicated team behind the long-running Donate4Dáithi movement, organ donation in Northern Ireland has now changed to an opt-out system, meaning that, in the event that organ donation is a possibility after you die, it will be considered that you agree to being a donor unless you have specifically chosen to opt out or are in an excluded group.

Dáithí has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since June 1, 2018. In the five years since, his family have worked tirelessly to campaign for a move towards soft opt-out law and to promote organ donation.

Dáithí’s father, Máirtín, said: “As a father, there are few moments in life that can compare to the pride and joy I feel for my son Dáithí on this momentous day. After years of tireless campaigning and fighting for this cause, Dáithí’s Law is finally going to be in effect. It’s hard for me to put into words just how much this means to our family and to the organ donation community.

“The journey to get to this point has been long and exhausting. We have made countless sacrifices along the way, and there were times when we felt like giving up. But we persevered, because we knew that this was a cause worth fighting for.

“Today is a day of celebration. It is a day that we will remember for the rest of our lives. But it is also a day to reflect on the hard work and dedication that went into making this happen. We have fought tooth and nail to get to this point, and we have done it with love, determination, and a sense of purpose. We plan to continue to spread the message of Dáithí’s Law and continue to raise awareness of organ donation at any opportunity.

“Today is a day of hope, of love, and of triumph.”