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Mother of two dies after rickshaw crash following Westlife concert in Dublin

Danielle O'Keane, 37, from Newry, died on 1 October after a rickshaw she was travelling in hit a kerb near Dublin's 3Arena following a Westlife concert. Gardaí appealed for witnesses.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Daily Mirror
Image: Irish Independent

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Danielle O'Keane, a 37-year-old mother of two from Saval, Newry, died in hospital on Thursday 1 October 2026 after a rickshaw crash in Dublin following a Westlife concert. Mixed · 2The Daily Mirror dated the crash to around 11pm on Saturday 26 September on North Wall Quay; the Irish Independent said Saturday 28 September, a date that does not match the Saturday. Mixed · 2She had been at the Westlife show at the 3Arena with friends and took a rickshaw towards the city centre to meet her husband and friends' partners; her family said it was only on the rickshaw for seconds before it hit a kerb and toppled over.

Left · 1She was taken by ambulance to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, where she was placed in intensive care on a ventilator and spent five days before she died. Left · 1Her brother-in-law Derek told the Irish Mirror that doctors described a "life-ending brain injury" and that brainstem tests were under way before the ventilator would be withdrawn. Right · 1The Irish Independent reported, citing her sister-in-law Aisling O'Kane on Newstalk, that one of the other three women suffered a head laceration, a broken nose and broken teeth, while the other two were uninjured.

Left · 1A Garda spokesperson said a woman in her 30s was "struck by a vehicle", that no other injuries were reported and that forensic collision investigators examined the scene; gardaí appealed for witnesses and for road users with camera footage to come forward (Store Street Garda Station, 01 666 8000). Left · 1Her family described her as having a "heart of gold"; she was due to leave for a first family holiday in Mallorca on 5 October with her husband and sons aged five and two, and a GoFundMe had raised over £40,000 by the Mirror's first report. Mixed · 2A funeral notice names her husband Dave, sons Caolán and Cillian, parents Michael and Pauline and brothers Barry and twin Sean; funeral arrangements are to follow.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Mirror first told it as an unfolding family tragedy built on the brother-in-law's quotes, then ran a short follow-up reporting her death.
Emphasis
Emotive family quotes, the cancelled holiday, the fundraiser, the Garda appeal and the death notice.
Leaves out or plays down
The follow-up omits the Garda appeal and the injuries to another passenger.
Charged language
“life ending brain injury”“catastrophic”“heart of gold”
For example
“A young mum with a 'heart of gold' was rushed to hospital with a 'catastrophic' brain injury” — Daily Mirror
“Mum-of-two dies after suffering 'catasphrophic injury' following Westlife concert” — Daily Mirror

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
The Irish Independent reported the death in a sober news report, quoting the funeral notice and the sister-in-law's Newstalk interview.
Emphasis
Details of the other passengers' injuries, the chaotic exit from the arena and the sister-in-law's tribute.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the Garda statement, witness appeal or fundraiser.
Charged language
“Young mother (37)”
For example
“One other woman received a laceration to her head, a broken nose and broken teeth” — Irish Independent
“She was the most organized, loving, selfless person.” — Irish Independent