Woman dies after falling under double decker bus

CONFUSION surrounded the tragic death of an elderly Dublin woman last night when she died after an incident involving a double decker bus.

Garda sources said Ellen Murphy, as she was named locally, collapsed while stepping off the No 27 Dublin bus on the northside yesterday morning. The incident happened directly outside the Northside Shopping Centre at a bus stop.

As she fell, her leg went under the double decker bus resulting in a badly dislocated knee. The woman was not described as critical and was brought to Beaumont Hospital.

However, later investigating gardaí were informed the woman had died.

A garda source explained: “It appears the lady got down off the bus, she stumbled or fell after an attack or maybe fainted.

“As she fell, her leg went under the bus.”

Initially, investigative sources suggested the accident did not seem like the driver’s fault. The woman was described as semi-conscious when removed by ambulance from the scene.

A separate source familiar with the inquiry said it seemed the woman had been going to get the bus when the incident happened at the bus stop and that she was not actually a passenger.

“Initially, it seemed like a minor incident, but then we heard she had died.”

A number of statements were being prepared last night and gardaí were expected to officially question the driver of the double decker bus.

Dublin Bus said it was carrying out its own investigation into the incident.

“Our thoughts and our sympathies are with the family of the lady who passed away earlier today. The accident involved a 27 bus leaving the Barry Court Road in Coolock. We are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the accident and we are also co-operating fully with a garda investigation into it.”