Sister’s emotional tribute after death on Belfast streets

Sister’s emotional tribute after death on Belfast streets

23 March 2016

THE funeral will take place this morning of Catherine Kenny who died on a Belfast street at the weekend.

Thirty two year-old Catherine, who had been homeless for 11 months but who was originally from Downpatrick, died in a shop doorway on Saturday morning, just weeks after the death of her partner in the same location.

Her death, which is the fifth to affect the homeless community in Belfast since the New Year, has caused shock across Northern Ireland.

Catherine’s older sister, Lee-Maria Kenny-Hughes, has paid an emotional tribute to her sister, who she confirmed had battled with alcohol and drugs for several years.

Speaking to the BBC Nolan Show, Lee-Maria spoke movingly of being devastated and heartbroken by the loss of her sister, who she had struggled to help.

She said Catherine, who was a former pupil of St Colmcille’s Primary School and St Mary’s High School in Downpatrick, had first begun to experiment with drugs as a teenager.

Starting out at 16 with “stupid pills and then a few smokes of cannabis”, Lee-Maria said drugs eventually gripped her little sister “with a vengeance.”

“It took hold of her and we knew. We heard it in her voice,” she said.

“We saw her every day but she went downhill.

“It took a hold very quickly. It seemed to have moved from somebody who seemed to have taken too much drink, who would have been a regular drinker, to moving up the scale of what she was drinking.

“Catherine got to a dark place and unfortunately tried many times to get back on the path but was never able.”

She said her sister continually moved house, losing private rentals because of her lifestyle, but was always hopeful that a move would give her a fresh start.

When Catherine finally became permanently homeless 11 months ago, Lee-Maria said she made sure to visit her often.

“There was no getting through to her. No matter what we offered her or suggested, no matter what encouragement we gave her. She knew we loved her but it was never enough.”

Lee-Maria said her sister always said “see you later” before turning away from her to “the life she felt she had to live.”

She said she believes Catherine’s downfall was due to the lack of appropriate full-time residential addiction care. 

Suffering a severe downturn in her health just days before her death, Lee-Maria said she believes she saw a positive change in her sister’s eyes.

She said she believed Catherine had shown a new determination to sort out her life but despite many telephone calls she faced a three-week wait for residential care.

“I saw in her eyes for the first time she wanted help and I believe she wanted it,” said Lee-Maria.