Woman Charged Over Theft of Dáithí Mac Gabhann's Car Banned From Belfast on Bail
A woman charged in connection with the theft of a car belonging to the family of young organ donation campaigner Dáithí Mac Gabhann has been granted bail — but banned from entering Belfast except for essential appointments, as a judge cited high community tensions and the risk of public disorder.
Dearbhla Conlon (35) appeared in court alongside two co-accused, Jolene Cush (43) and Brandon Lee O'Neill (23), who were remanded in custody. The case relates to the theft of a car from the Mac Gabhann family home in west Belfast in December 2025, which also contained Dáithí's wheelchair and Christmas presents — a theft that caused widespread outrage across Northern Ireland and beyond.
Background
Dáithí Mac Gabhann is a young boy with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome who has been awaiting a heart transplant since infancy. His family's tireless campaign to reform organ donation law in Northern Ireland — meeting with politicians at Stormont and Westminster and attracting enormous public support — led directly to the passage of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Act, now widely known as "Dáithí's Law." The legislation came into effect in June 2023, introducing a "soft opt-out" system under which adults in Northern Ireland are considered to have consented to organ donation after their death unless they have explicitly registered a decision to opt out. In its first year, the law contributed to Northern Ireland's highest-ever number of organ donors.
The Mac Gabhann family's profile as advocates for one of the most significant pieces of health legislation in Northern Ireland's recent history made the December 2025 theft of their car a particularly emotive incident. The vehicle contained not only Dáithí's wheelchair but also Christmas presents for the family. The PSNI subsequently recovered the car, and it was reported that the driver — alleged to be O'Neill — drove the vehicle at police officers during the recovery operation at a west Belfast shopping centre.
Key Developments
Police had opposed Conlon's bail application, citing high community tensions surrounding the case and a risk of public disorder. The judge granted bail with strict conditions: a ban from entering Belfast except for essential medical or legal appointments, a curfew, an electronic tag, and no contact with her co-accused. Jolene Cush and Brandon Lee O'Neill were remanded in custody.
The charges against the three accused include aggravated vehicle taking, handling stolen goods, and driving offences. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed a trial on indictment, meaning the case will be heard before a jury in the Crown Court — a process that could take some months to reach a full hearing. All three accused are due to appear in court again in the coming weeks.
Why It Matters
The case has resonated deeply with the public in Belfast and across Northern Ireland because of the family's profile and the circumstances of the theft. Dáithí Mac Gabhann is not simply a public figure — he is a child whose family has given years of their lives to a campaign that has already saved lives and will save many more. The theft of their car, containing his wheelchair and Christmas gifts, was experienced by many in the community as a personal affront. The strict bail conditions imposed on Conlon reflect the judge's recognition of the community tensions the case has generated and the depth of public feeling surrounding it.
The case also raises broader questions about the protection of vulnerable families who have entered public life in pursuit of legislative change, and about the support available to them when they become targets of crime.
Local Impact
For Belfast and the wider Northern Ireland community, the Mac Gabhann family's story has been one of the most powerful and unifying narratives of recent years. Dáithí's Law has already made a tangible difference — Northern Ireland recorded its highest-ever number of organ donors in the first year of the legislation — and the family's courage in campaigning for change while managing the daily reality of Dáithí's condition has inspired widespread admiration. The theft of their car was felt as a community wound, and the court proceedings will be followed closely by the many thousands of people who have supported the family's campaign.
What's Next
The trial on indictment process means the case will be heard before a jury, with a full hearing likely some months away. The outcome will be closely watched by a community that has invested deeply in the Mac Gabhann family's story. In the meantime, Dáithí continues to wait for a heart transplant — a reminder that behind the court proceedings and the public outrage lies a family living with an extraordinary daily reality.
Full Belfast Live coverage at Belfast Live. Further reporting from BBC News. Court details from Belfast Telegraph.
