Posted by Updated / Sunday, 18 Jan 2026 19:12
The Dublin coroner has been informed after a woman in her 40s who had been sleeping rough in Dublin’s city centre died on Friday.
She has been named locally as Natasha Smith.
It is understood Ms Smith had been sleeping in a tent in a laneway close to Trinity College Dublin.
Gardaí and emergency services responded to the medical incident on Pearse Street at around 12.30pm on Friday afternoon.
Ms Smith was taken to St James’s Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
She was known to several groups working with the homeless in Dublin city over the last couple of years.
Posting on social media, the group ‘A Lending Hand’ said it knew her well and were very fond of her.
The group said it was heartbroken to hear that she had passed away, adding “her pals on the streets are devastated”.
In a statement, the charity Tiglin at the Lighthouse, which runs a homeless café nearby where Ms Smith slept in a tent, said it was “deeply saddened by the passing” and described her death as “a loss that has touched many across the city”.
Founder of Tiglin and Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy said: “She was known to a number of services supporting people who are homeless, including our own team at the Lighthouse Café on Pearse Street, and others who work daily to offer care, connection, and practical support.
“She was a beautiful lady and whose death is a stark and heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerability faced by those living in homelessness, particularly those who endure isolation, trauma, and hardship on a daily basis, often unseen and unheard by the wider community.”
Tiglin said the tragedy underscores the vital importance of “compassionate, consistent services that meet people where they are, offering dignity, safety, and hope in the midst of struggle”.
It said: “Every life lost is one too many, and each loss calls us to renew our commitment to supporting those most at risk.
“We extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew, loved, and supported her.
“May her passing strengthen our collective resolve to care for those who continue to face homelessness and isolation.”
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive said it had been “made aware of the death of a woman who was sleeping rough in the city”.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to her partner, her family and her friends.
“We would also like to acknowledge Dublin Simon’s Outreach team, who worked closely with the deceased over an extended time,” it said.
A fundraiser has been set up to help her family.
No foul play is suspected.
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