This article is from page 7 of the 2014-08-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
THE body of a woman who died after she tripped and fell under a train in Dublin was returned home to Kilrush for burial.
Patricia Brennan was killed in the tragic accident on Thursday afternoon.
The Cappagh native who had been living in Dublin was blind. She was waiting on the platform at Raheny DART station just before 2pm when she tripped and fell onto the track as a fast-moving train was approaching.
Irish Rail said the driver put on the emergency brake but could not stop the train before it hit the woman.
She was hit by a train travelling from the city’s Pearse Street station to Drogheda, which was not scheduled to stop in Raheny station.
The 57 year-old was rushed to Beaumont Hospital, but later died.
It is understood a group of Spanish students were on the southbound platform at the time of the incident and witnessed the fall.
One of them broke away along the platform and tried to alert the driver of the oncoming train.
Ms Brennan’s family came originally from Scattery Island but have lived on the main land in Cappagh for more than 50 years.
Local man Sean Dunleavy, who went to school with the late Ms Brennan said she was a lovely woman who returned regularly to the town to visit her mother.
She is survived by her mother Bridget, sister Maria, brother-inlaw Jim, aunts, uncles, relatives and friends and was predeceased by her father and her brother.
Irish Rail offered its sympathies to the Brennan family and Ms Brennan’s friends for their tragic loss.
“Despite the efforts of the driver who applied the emergency brake and a young woman on the southbound platform who also alerted the driver to the incident, it was not possible to stop the train before it struck the woman,” a spokesman said.
Irish Rail said the driver of the train would receive counselling and support following the incident.
“Customers on board the train remained on board throughout, but were moved to the rear of the train away from where the emergency services were assisting the woman,” the spokesman added.
Patricia was laid to rest in New Shanakyle Cemetery Kilrush yesterday (Monday), following 10am Mass in St Senan’s Church.