Charity abseil to remember Catherine at Europa Hotel

Charity abseil to remember Catherine at Europa Hotel

14 February 2024

STAFF and students at St Mary’s High School, Downpatrick, are taking part in a charity abseil down the Europa Hotel, Belfast, in memory of a former pupil.

The descent on April 29 is to celebrate the life of Catherine Kenny, who tragically died in March 2016 while living on the streets.

The school has set a target of £1,500 which will be donated to the Welcome Organisation which helps people affected by homelessness.

Their latest service, a 10 bed full-time therapeutic and supportive accommodation facility, was named after Catherine, who died aged 32.

Catherine, a mother-of-one, had been homeless for 11 months and had struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs for several years.

The Downpatrick woman was the fifth person to die from homelessness in Belfast city centre from January that year.

When the news broke about Catherine’s death, her heartbroken sister, Lee-Maria Hughes, said that the family were “devastated” and “robbed of an amazing young girl who would have absolutely helped the lowest in society”.

“We had a very intense and long battle with Catherine and her addiction to alcohol and drugs,” she said at the time.

Mrs Hughes added that Catherine had struggled with addiction since she was 16 years old.

St Mary’s High School said on their just-giving page: “We would like to remember Catherine and all those other students whose lives did not turn out the way they had hoped and dreamed.”

People can donate to the just-giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/stmaryshighschoolabseil-1705926277007?fbclid=IwAR1eslJgumLBwH2SWrMbGQXsvF3VGtR3MnPwdNK4tGoy2wNQWZA3q7BqJOk.