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# close shave
Close call for minister and senator as large branch misses them by inches at Dáil
Minister of State Joe Costello, Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan and his brother Michael Coghlan were standing under the tree when a large branch fell.
MINISTER OF STATE Joe Costello, Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan and his brother Michael Coghlan had a “close call” outside the Dáil earlier when a large branch fell from a tree and missed them by inches.
The men were standing under the tree at the entrance, beside the glass reception area, when a large branch broke from the tree and fell to the ground.
“We were standing there and next thing leaves began to fall and then there was a crashing noise and a large branch fell,” Costello told TheJournal.ie.
“Leaves hit us, not the branch, and thankfully it missed the glass reception too,” added the Labour TD for Dublin Central.
When asked if he believed there was a conspiracy theory behind the fallen branch, Costello joked:
“Maybe for Paul with the abolition of the Seanad debate at the moment.”
No one was injured and security at Leinster House have since blocked off the area.
Costello added that the rest of the trees around the area will be checked to make sure a similar would not happen.
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