‘Life with Sandra was like winning the lottery’
Heartbroken husband’s poignant tribute to wife who died of suspected salmonella poisoning after a Holy Communion meal
THE devastated husband of a woman who died of suspected salmonella poisoning described being married to his wife like ‘winning the lottery everyday’. Garda Mike O’Brien was speaking at the funeral Mass of his late wife Sandra – known as San – who passed away suddenly on Sunday night.
He said he’d done ‘a lot of hard things in his life’ but laying his wife to rest was ‘the hardest’.
It’s understood she suffered serious food poisoning at a First Holy Communion meal which she attended with family at O’Dwyer’s Pub and Grill in Portmarnock.
The mother-of-one from River Valley in Swords, north Dublin was discovered that evening at home by her husband who is a garda in Dublin’s inner city.
Several members of her family also suffered food poisoning.
An investigation is now underway between the Health Service Executive and the Food Safety Authority.
More than a thousand people packed into St Finian’s Church in River Valley, Swords at 11am yesterday. Fr Des told the congregation they were joined together in ‘grief and shock’ over the sudden loss of Mrs O’Brien née Murphy.
While her heartbroken husband read from several pages of a specially prepared tribute to his ‘beautiful best friend’.
He began by saying: ‘I’ve done a lot of hard things in my life but this is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done.’
He continued: ‘Some people are lucky to win the lottery, but it was like winning the lottery every day having Sandra as my wife.
‘She was a beautiful lady, we talked about everything, she loved life, she was a kind and caring woman and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for you”.
He thanked her siblings and friends, and those from the sporting community which Sandra was actively involved in.
He also spoke of his wife’s love for Josh, the couple’s only child whom she ‘idolised’.
‘There was nothing she wouldn’t do for him. She lit a candle for him regularly around the time of his exams,’ he said.
‘She had nothing to worry about because he is a credit to her and is a fine young man. So far so good,’ he laughed.
He described how his own family ‘adored’ his wife from the beginning and were supporting him during this difficult time.
He thanked the running group Sloggers for Joggers – of which Sandra was a member – who brought gifts to the alter while her young nieces told the congregation how much they will ‘miss aunt San’.
‘I love you, I will miss you, you were very funny,’ said one child.
Mr O’Brien spoke of the couple’s annual trips to see Sandra’s sister and her family in Florida and how much they enjoyed their time over there. He said Sandra was so ‘proud of her home and kept it beautiful’ he said. ‘She loved life, and was the life and soul of every party, and never needed alcohol to have fun, just a soda water and a dash of blackcurrant.’
The packed congregation sobbed openly during the one hour ceremony which was attended by a number of gardaí who held a guard of honour outside the church.
Mr O’Brien said: ‘I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, I didn’t realise she touched so many people.’ He received a standing ovation at the end of his emotional tribute.
As Sandra made her last journey to her final resting place her friends from Sloggers for Joggers who were dressed in their running gear, jogged alongside her hearse as it travelled to at Fingal Cemetery in Balgriffin.
Mrs O’Brien had attended a meal at O’Dwyer’s Pub and Restaurant in Portmarnock in north Dublin when she and other members of her family suffered suspected salmonella poisoning.
The venue was served with a closure order by the Food Safety
‘She idolised our son Josh’
Authority and the Health Service Executive on May 19.
Flanreil Food Services Ltd which has a registered address in Fairview Strand, north Dublin has the franchise to provide food at the pub and also provides an off-site catering service.
In a statement the HSE said: ‘The Health Service Executive is investigating an outbreak of food poisoning due to salmonella in North Dublin and is liaising with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. An Outbreak Control Team has been formed and an investigation is ongoing. Members of the public should contact their GP if they have any concerns regarding their health.’.
While the Food Safety said: ‘The investigation is in its early stages and while it is currently focusing on a catering company, Flanreil Food Services Ltd., the source and cause of the outbreak has not yet been identified.’
Flanreil Food Services Ltd could not be reached for comment.