A fundraising appeal has been launched to support the family of a young mum who suffered a "life-ending brain injury" after a rickshaw crash in Dublin. Danielle O'Keane, 37, from Newry, Co. Armagh, was rushed to Mater Misericordiae University Hospital after the incident on North Wall Quay at around 11pm on Saturday night. She continues to receive treatment in ICU on life support.
Rickshaw toppled after Westlife gig
On the night of the incident, Danielle had made her way to the 3Arena with friends to see Westlife in concert. What should have been a short rickshaw ride to the city centre to meet her husband and other friends turned into a catastrophe.
Derek, Danielle's brother-in-law, told the Irish Mirror: "It's tragic. They went to the concert and they were leaving. My brother David (Danielle's husband) was actually in the city centre with a couple of his friends... They were leaving to head up into the city centre to meet up with David."
"They got into a rickshaw. And it was only due to be a short journey up into the city centre. But I was talking to one of the girls that accompanied Danielle, and she was saying she was only on the rickshaw for a matter of seconds before it hit the curb and toppled over."
Family facing heartbreaking prospect
Derek disclosed that Danielle suffered a "life-ending brain injury" from the accident. "The doctor sat us down and spoke to us, and he actually revealed that she's actually facing a life-ending brain injury," Derek explained.
"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."
"So there is nothing they can do. There's no surgical intervention or nothing they can do to help. It's just the process of waiting for them to officially turn off the machine. It's heartbreaking."
First family holiday cancelled
Danielle was due to fly to Mallorca next Monday for her first family holiday with her two young sons and husband. Derek spoke of how Danielle had a "heart of gold" and was "full of life" with "so much to look forward to".
"She was the most sweetest girl you'd ever meet in your life, full of life, full of energy, heart of gold," Derek shared. "And a young family, Danielle was only 37. 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... They were a young family with the world at their feet. So much to look forward to. Being deprived of so many opportunities in life together as a family."
Fundraiser and garda appeal
A fundraising initiative launched to help Danielle's family with costs has attracted tremendous support. The appeal has raised €26,684 of its €40,100 target.
Derek praised the commitment of medical personnel and gardaí who have offered outstanding assistance to the family, going "above and beyond" for Danielle and her loved ones. Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses to the collision to come forward with any information they may have.
A Garda spokesperson stated: "Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling in the vicinity of North Wall Quay on Saturday, 26 September between 10:30pm and 11:15pm, are asked to make this 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."
