A mother-of-two was killed after sustaining a ‘catastrophic’ brain injury when the rickshaw she was riding in crashed on her way back from a Westlife concert.
Danielle O’Keane, 37, was heading from the 3Arena after the Irish band’s gig on September 26 to meet her husband in Dublin city centre.
At around 11pm the pedal-powered rickshaw hit a curb and overturned, throwing her from the vehicle where she was reportedly hit by an oncoming vehicle.
Danielle, from Newry in Northern Ireland, was transported by paramedics to Dublin’s Mater Misericordiae University Hospital where she was placed on a ventilator in the ICU.
But despite the best efforts of medical staff, doctors said her brain injury was ‘life-ending’ and she passed away on October 1.
Irish police have now launched an appeal to the public, urging any witnesses to the incident to come forward.
The Gardai are especially looking to speak to road users with dashcam footage who were travelling in the vicinity of North Wall Quay on the night of the incident between 10.30pm and 11.15pm.
Photos from the scene show the overturned rickshaw and Garda forensics specialists examining the cordoned off crash site.
Danielle O’Keane, 37, died from injuries sustained after her rickshaw crashed on the way home from watching Irish band Westlife perform at the 3Arena in Dublin
Danielle’s death has shocked Ireland and led to an outpouring of sympathy, with a GoFundMe for the family raising more than £130,000.
A caption on the fundraising site, which was written before her passing, read: ‘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.’
Danielle, husband Dave and their two boys, aged five and two, were due to head to Mallorca for a family holiday in the coming days, Danielle’s brother-in-law Derek has revealed.
He told the Irish Mirror: ‘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.’
He added: ‘She was the most sweetest girl you’d ever meet in your life, full of life, full of energy, heart of gold.’
Derek said one of the other women in the rickshaw told him Danielle was only in the vehicle for a matter of seconds before it tipped over.
Danielle O’Keane (right) and husband Dave (left) were due to head on a family holiday at the start of October with their two young boys
Westlife performing at Croke Park, Dublin on September 05, 2026. The band paid tribute to Danielle at their concert in Newcastle Upon Tyne on Saturday
Westlife paid tribute to Danielle during their concert at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle Upon Tyne on Saturday, the Irish News reported.
Band members Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan dedicated the songs ‘Flying Without Wings’ and ‘You Raise Me Up’ to Mrs O’Keane.
Byrne said there were ‘no words’ to describe the tragedy of Danielle’s death and said the band was thinking of the ‘whole entire family’ before launching into ‘Flying Without Wings’.
Before they performed ‘You Raise Me Up’, Shane said: ‘This song is sung tonight to everybody who has lost somebody they love and for Danielle. We are going to celebrate them all up here, right now.’
A series of heartbreaking online tributes have been paid to Danielle, Belfast Live reported.
One mourner wrote: ‘Danielle was one of the friendliest and kindest people. It was a pleasure working with you all those years ago. Thinking of your whole family at this extremely difficult time. Rest in Peace.’
Another added: ‘The saddest possible outcome for this brilliant girl I am honoured to have known and worked with. Strength and love to Dave, her wee babies and entire family circle at this incredibly hard unimaginable time.’
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.
