Falling tree victim was mother of three children

THE pedestrian who was killed by a falling tree in Dublin on Thursday evening was a mother of three who was looking forward to her 46th birthday.

Lynda O’Brien, was an employee of ESB Energy International and daughter of former Fine Gael Minister of State Fergus O’Brien.

She died after being struck by part of a mature tree that fell across Waterloo Road during high winds at about 5pm.

The woman was walking to her home in Blackrock when she was pinned to the ground by the tree. Flowers have been left at the scene of the tragedy.

The driver of a Mercedes car which was also caught under the tree was able to escape injury although the vehicle’s bonnet was badly damaged.

A witness said the sound of the tree falling was like an explosion. Passer-bys used a table to keep the weight of the tree off the woman until medical help arrived.

Ms O’Brien had been crossing the road near the junction with Baggot Street when the tree was blown down. A witness said she appeared to have heard the tree snapping as she was walking across the road and tried to run.

Members of Dublin Fire Brigade managed to get the tree off the woman, while paramedics battled to save her life, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at St Vincent’s Hospital.

Ms O’Brien’s devastated husband, Richard Collins, said she was a great mother to their children Georgia, 14, Robert, 13, and Juliana, 7.

She had worked at ESB headquarters at Fitzwilliam Street and a spokesperson said her friends and colleagues at ESB were profoundly shocked and saddened by her sudden death.

Mr Collins, trading and finance director with Superquinn, said his wife was a very outgoing and giving person who devoted herself to her family.

She was a chartered accountant and they met while both working for KPMG.

Met Éireann issued a weather warning yesterday and forecast another stormy evening with gale force south-west winds gusting between 90km/h and 120km/h.