Mum-To-Be's Tree Fall Terror As Ireland Battered

Pregnant woman injured as car hit in 100kmh winds

- Jim Gallagher And Ciara Phelan

A pregnant woman was injured yesterday when high winds blew a tree on to her car.

The accident happened in Clonliffe Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, shortly before 9am closing off the whole street to traffic.

An ambulance and a fire engine rushed to the scene and a woman was transferred to hospital.

A garda said she was in shock but not seriously injured.

The previous day workmen had dug up the pavement around the base of the tree and were due to continue yesterday. It was surrounded by red barriers, some of which were crushed.

One local said: “They have been digging up the pavement all along Clonliffe Road for waterworks and boxing in the roots of the trees before re-concreting the path.

“It looks like the base of the tree was weakened and in the high winds it crashed down. There was no concrete on top of the roots to stabilise it.

“I had only passed by a few minutes before so I was lucky.”

Meanwhile, winds battered the country last night leaving thousands without power and wreaking havoc on the roads.