HEARTBREAK AS DANIELLE O’KEANE’S FUNERAL IS ANNOUNCED AFTER TRAGIC RICKSHAW CRASH

NEW DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR THE FUNERAL OF THE BELOVED MUM-OF-TWO WHO DIED DAYS AFTER A RICKSHAW CRASH FOLLOWING A WESTLIFE CONCERT IN DUBLIN

The family of Danielle O’Keane has announced funeral arrangements for the beloved 37-year-old mother-of-two who died after a tragic rickshaw crash following a Westlife concert in Dublin.

Danielle, from Saval in Newry, County Down, died on October 1 after spending several days in intensive care following the September 26 accident.

Her death has left her husband, two young sons and wider family facing an unimaginable loss.

A NIGHT THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

Danielle had travelled to Dublin with three friends to enjoy a Westlife concert at the 3Arena.

It was understood to have been a rare night out for the mother-of-two, who had been looking forward to spending time with friends and enjoying the band’s performance.

After the concert, Danielle was travelling by motorised rickshaw toward Dublin city centre to meet her husband and the partners of her friends.

But around 11 p.m. on September 26, the journey took a devastating turn.

The rickshaw was involved in an accident on North Wall Quay. Gardaí said a woman in her 30s was subsequently taken to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital with serious injuries.

Reports said the rickshaw struck a kerb or divider before overturning, with Danielle falling into the path of an approaching vehicle.

She suffered a catastrophic brain injury and was placed in intensive care on a ventilator.

HER FAMILY NEVER LEFT HER SIDE

For days, Danielle’s loved ones hoped for a miracle.

Her sister-in-law Aisling O’Keane described Danielle as a loving and selfless person and said the family was devastated by what had happened.

An online fundraiser was launched to support Danielle’s family and quickly drew enormous support, with more than £100,000 raised within days.

But on October 1, the family confirmed that Danielle had lost her fight for life.

Her death notice described her as the “much loved wife of Dave and dear mother of Caolán and Cillian.”

FUNERAL DETAILS HAVE NOW BEEN RELEASED

Danielle’s remains will repose at her parents’ home on Crohill Road in Newry on Wednesday and Thursday, from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. each day.

Her funeral Mass will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, at St Joseph’s Church in Sheeptown, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

The family has asked mourners to respect the arrangements as they prepare to say goodbye to Danielle.

She is survived by her husband Dave and their sons Caolán and Cillian, as well as her parents Michael and Pauline, her brother Barry and her twin brother Sean, along with a large circle of relatives and friends.

WESTLIFE REMEMBERED HER

News of Danielle’s death also reached the band whose concert she had attended that fateful night.

Westlife paid an emotional tribute to her during their Newcastle show, dedicating “Flying Without Wings” and “You Raise Me Up” to Danielle and her family.

Nicky Byrne told the audience they wanted to dedicate the song to a mother and her entire family.

Shane Filan later dedicated another song to Danielle and to everyone who had lost someone they loved.

The tribute added another emotional layer to a story that began with what was supposed to be a joyful night out.

A FAMILY’S FINAL GOODBYE

Danielle’s death notice simply described her passing as being “as the result of an accident.”

But behind those words is a family whose lives have been changed forever.

A loving wife is gone.

Two young boys have lost their mother.

Parents have lost their daughter.

And brothers have lost a sister and, in Sean’s case, his twin.

Friends and colleagues have continued to share tributes, remembering Danielle as someone who was deeply loved and whose absence will be felt for years to come.

Meanwhile, Gardaí continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and have appealed for witnesses and anyone with dash-cam footage from the North Wall Quay area between approximately 10:30 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. on September 26 to come forward.

For Danielle’s family, however, the investigation is only one part of a much bigger heartbreak.

Their focus now is on remembering a beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister — and giving Danielle the final farewell she deserves.