Young mum suffers ‘life-ending’ brain injury in Dublin rickshaw crash after Westlife concert

The 37-year-old remains in ICU following the collision.

Danielle O’Keane, 37, originally from Newry, County Armagh, was travelling from the 3Arena to Dublin city centre to meet her husband David and friends after attending the Westlife concert when the rickshaw crashed on North Wall Quay at around 11pm on Saturday, September 26.

She was rushed to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, where she remains in ICU on life support.

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Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Danielle’s brother-in-law Derek said she had only been in the rickshaw for a matter of seconds when it struck a kerb and overturned.

Derek said doctors have told the family that Danielle has suffered a “life-ending brain injury” and that they are now going through the process of confirming the diagnosis with brainstem testing.

He said: “The doctor sat us down and spoke to us, and he actually revealed that she's actually facing a life-ending brain injury.

“At the moment we're waiting for them, they're going through the process of confirming this. They do what's called a brainstem test, and this brainstem test verifies what they suspect from the MRI scan, CT scans.

“It's basically the step before they decide to remove all aids and the ventilator.”

Derek said the family has been left devastated by what happened to Danielle, who is mum to two young boys, aged five and two.

“She was the most sweetest girl you'd ever meet in your life, full of life, full of energy, heart of gold,” he said.

The family had also been looking forward to their first holiday together, with a trip to Mallorca planned for next week.

Derek said the family had packed their bags and that Danielle had “so much to look forward to”.

“She was only 37,” he said. “The two young boys... five and two years of age, they were all looking forward to their first family holiday.

“They were actually due to travel away to Mallorca on the fifth of October. The bags were packed and everything.”

A GoFundMe page has been launched to support Danielle’s family with expenses during the devastating period.

At the time of writing, the GoFundMe appeal set up by the woman's family has raised £47,759 of its £55,000 target, following a huge response from people in Ireland and beyond.

"She has a life ending brain injury. She has two little boys who are 5 and 2 her husband was to start a new job today and is now unable to start as he is with his seriously injured wife.

"We want to help in any way we can with bills as they continue to come in. Any donation is greatly appreciated along with prayers and thank you an advance for any donations," the page reads.

Derek also praised the staff at the Mater and the Gardaí for the support they have provided to Danielle and her family.

He said hospital staff had gone “above and beyond” in caring for the family during what he described as an incredibly difficult time.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and are appealing to witnesses to come forward.

A Garda spokesperson said road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage, and who were travelling in the vicinity of North Wall Quay on Saturday, 26 September between 10.30pm and 11.15pm are asked to make it available to investigating 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.