Gardaí are treating the death of a woman in her early 20s in Tralee town centre last weekend on a bitterly cold night as a sudden death. The manager of the emergency accommodation where she was living has called for more suitable accommodation for the homeless in Kerry.
Sarah O’Keeffe (22) had battled addiction and homelessness but had been positive about her future. Her body was found in Godfrey Place in Tralee town centre in the early hours of Saturday, a bitterly cold night. Tom Wall, the manager of Arlington Lodge, Kerry’s only emergency facility run by the charity Novas, said Novas had been dealing with Ms O’Keeffe for five years. There were not enough supports, Mr Wall added, particularly in the area of accommodation.
“A lot of people had worked very hard for her and she did appreciate it,” he said.