Dáithí Mac Gabhann, a nine-year-old from West Belfast, has received a heart transplant after spending eight years on the waiting list. The operation took place at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, and his family said his recovery is progressing well.

Dáithí was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition where the left side of the heart does not form correctly. He had been listed for transplant since 2018.

His father, Máirtín Mac Gabhann, described immediate physical improvements after the surgery, noting that Dáithí’s lips turned pink for the first time and his hands and feet became warm. He said the family was grateful to the donor and the donor’s family for their decision.

The Mac Gabhann family campaigned for years to change organ donation laws in Northern Ireland. Their efforts led to the introduction of Dáithí’s Law in June 2023, which introduced an opt-out system for organ donation, bringing the region in line with the rest of the UK. Under the law, adults are deemed to have consented to donation unless they opt out.

Following the transplant, the family shared a statement on social media, thanking supporters and emphasising that organ donation saves lives. They asked for privacy for Dáithí’s donor family.

Máirtín Mac Gabhann was appointed MBE in 2024 for his campaigning, and Dáithí was granted the freedom of Belfast in 2023.

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey welcomed the news, describing the family’s campaign as transformative for organ donation in the region. Fearghal McKinney of the British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland also praised their work and encouraged others to record their organ donation decision.