A fundraiser established to support the family of a young mother who tragically sustained a “catastrophic” injury in a devastating Dublin collision has witnessed an incredible wave of support from across the country. Danielle O’Keane, aged 37, suffered a “life ending brain injury” following a horrific crash on North Wall Quay, Dublin at approximately 11pm on Saturday night (September 26).
Danielle was rushed to Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for treatment of severe injuries and remains in ICU on a ventilator.
On the evening of the tragic accident, Danielle, from Newry, Co. Armagh, had travelled to watch Westlife at the 3Arena with several friends, enjoying the reunion concert alongside thousands of others in what was supposed to be a celebratory night.
Yet the young mother’s world was shattered when what ought to have been a brief rickshaw journey to the city centre to meet her husband and friends became a horrific ordeal.
Derek, Danielle’s devoted 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. And horrifically resulting in a catastrophic brain injury.”
Tragically, Derek revealed that cherished Danielle sustained a “life-ending brain injury” in the collision and her loved ones are now confronting the devastating reality that her life support will be switched off.
“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.”
Danielle was set to jet off to Mallorca next Monday for her first family getaway with her two young kids and husband – a trip that will now tragically never happen.
Derek described how Danielle possessed 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.”
A fundraising campaign established to assist Danielle’s family with expenses, or in whatever way possible, has received overwhelming backing from across the globe. Since its launch, €26,684 has been collected towards the €40,100 goal. To donate click here.
Derek commended the dedication of the nursing staff and gardaí who have provided unwavering support to their family throughout this heartbreaking period, going “above and beyond” for Danielle and her devastated relatives.
He revealed: “I have to say with the staff up here in the hospital, and even the reaction from the members of the gardaí that were up here.
“Because it’s still kind of like an active investigation in regards to how the incident happened, because we are dealing with a life ending issue here.
“The gardaí are being fantastic. The staff, the nurses up here. I mean, I just heard on the radio there that non-essential staff are kind of working to rule because of their paying conditions.
“What we’re witnessing up here firsthand what they’re doing, they’re all going above and beyond in how they’re dealing, not just with Dave and Danielle, but all the family members that are up here – they just couldn’t do enough for you. It’s fantastic.”
Gardaí are still urging anyone who witnessed the collision to step forward.
A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: “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.”