THE family of a homeless woman who died in Belfast have opened up about the struggles with drugs and alcohol that led to her living on the streets.
Catherine Kenny, a mother of one, was found dead on Saturday morning in a shop doorway in the city centre.
Originally from Downpatrick, her Requiem Mass will be held on Wednesday at 9am at St Patrick's Church followed by burial at St Patrick's Cemetery, Killough Road.
The 32-year-old is survived by her son Calum, brother David, and sisters Paula and Lee-Maria.
She is due to be buried in the Co Down parish with her late parents Michael and Kathleen.
Ms Kenny is the fifth person to die in Belfast this year who had been receiving help from homeless charities.
She died in the same shop doorway where her partner William 'Jimmy' Coulter, from the Ligoniel area of Belfast, lost his life last month.
Her heartbroken sister Lee-Maria Hughes said on Monday that the family feel "devastated" and "robbed of an amazing young girl who would have absolutely helped the lowest in society".
Fighting back tears, she told the BBC how drugs had a significant impact on Ms Kenny's life.
"We had a very intense and long battle with Catherine and her addiction to alcohol and drugs," she said.
"We've been dealing with this since Catherine was 16, but back then it was never hard drugs. But then they gripped her with a vengeance."
She added: "There was no getting through to her. No matter what we offered her, no matter what we suggested, no matter what we gave her, no matter how many times we told her we loved her.
"She knew we loved her but it was never enough.
"And every time we were with her, she always said, 'see you later'. And she just turned and walked to the life that she felt she had to live.
"She said goodbye for one final time and she'll not say goodbye again."
Ms Hughes told how she was with her sister on Tuesday in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital after she had "taken a fairly severe turn" the evening before.
Her husband Darren said Ms Kenny had tried on many occasions to turn her life around.
"Catherine got to a dark place and unfortunately tried many times to come back on the path again but wasn't able to," he said.
"I firmly believe that a lot of that was from not being able to avail of residential detox and addictions care.
"She kind of just moved around to try and start somewhere afresh – a fresh start would be a fresh outlook on life, but unfortunately the demons just followed her."
Police are investigating the cause of her death but a crime is not suspected.
Floral tributes, balloons and poignant handwritten messages have formed a shrine at the shop doorway at the corner of Donegall Place and Castle Lane.
Social Development Minister Lord Morrow said he will present a draft action plan on homelessness to the executive on Thursday.
"There are places available for people who choose to sleep rough on our streets and I would appeal to them and importantly to those who know them to avail of these and to access the wrap around services and help that is available," he said.
There are around 20 people sleeping rough each night in Belfast city centre.
Last month, Belfast's lord mayor held an emergency meeting of agencies that work with homeless people following the death of a man in a shop doorway on High Street in February.
