Story summary
Danielle O'Keane, a 37-year-old mother of two from Newry in Northern Ireland, died on October 1 after sustaining a "catastrophic" brain injury when the rickshaw she was riding in crashed while returning from a Westlife concert at the 3Arena in Dublin. The incident occurred around 11 PM on September 26 near North Wall Quay. Initially thrown from the vehicle, Danielle was hit by another car and rushed to Mater Misericordiae University Hospital where she remained on life support until her death six days later. Her tragic passing has sparked widespread sympathy in Ireland, with a GoFundMe page for her family raising nearly £130,000 as of now. The Gardai have launched an investigation and are seeking witnesses or dashcam footage from the crash site between 10:30 PM and 11:15 PM on September 26 to aid their inquiry.
Written for “Rickshaw Crash Investigation” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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.
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she → kill → 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.
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O'Keane → head → 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.
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she → power → 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.
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she → transport → ICU
But despite the best efforts of medical staff, doctors said her brain injury was 'life-ending' and she passed away on October 1.
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she → say → October
Irish police have now launched an appeal to the public, urging any witnesses to the incident to come forward.
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police → launch → incident
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.
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who → look → 10.30pm
Photos from the scene show the overturned rickshaw and Garda forensics specialists examining the cordoned off crash site.
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specialists → show → 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 almost £130,000.
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GoFundMe → die → 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.
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he → write → wife
'We want to help in any way we can with bills as they continue to come in.
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they → want → bills
Any donation is greatly appreciated along with prayers and thank you an advance for any donations.
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donation → appreciate → donations
'
Danielle, husband Dave and their two boys, aged five and two, were due to head to Mallorca for a family holiday at the start of October, Danielle's brother-in-law Derek has revealed.
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Derek → head → law
He told the Irish Mirror: 'They were actually due to travel away to Mallorca on the fifth of October.
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They → tell → October
The bags were packed and everything.
'
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bags → pack → ?
He added: 'She was the most sweetest girl you'd ever meet in your life, full of life, full of energy, heart of gold.'
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you → add → 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.
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it → say → seconds
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.
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Westlife → head → September
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.
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News → pay → Saturday
Band members Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan dedicated the songs 'Flying Without Wings' and 'You Raise Me Up' to Mrs O'Keane.
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You → dedicate → 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'.
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band → say → 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.
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they → perform → Danielle
We are going to celebrate them all up here, right now.'
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We → go → them
A series of heartbreaking online tributes have been paid to Danielle, Belfast Live reported.
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Live → pay → Danielle
One mourner wrote: 'Danielle was one of the friendliest and kindest people.
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Danielle → write → people
It was a pleasure working with you all those years ago.
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It → work → you
Another added: 'The saddest possible outcome for this brilliant girl I am honoured to have known and worked with.
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I → add → girl
The Aporia
