Tributes pour in for mum-of-two found dead in tent in Dublin city centre

The woman was found on Pearse Street.

The woman, who was locally named as Natasha Smith and originally from Clondalkin, Dublin, was found on Pearse Street at around 12:30 p.m., according to Extra.ie

Ms Smith, who was a mother of two sons, was in her late 30s and had been living and sleeping on the streets of Dublin. She was also known to several homelessness organisations.

Gardaí said in a statement that they assisted emergency services at the scene of a 'medical incident' on Pearse Street at around 12.30 pm on Friday.

Ms Smith's body was reportedly brought to St James's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem is due to be carried out.

The founder of Dublin-based volunteer outreach group A Lending Hand, Keira Gill, described Ms Smith as ‘always being as happy as she could, being so polite and very grateful’ for any help that the organisation offered her.

Ms Gill added: "Our condolences go to all her family, friends and homeless family. We knew her well, and she came to us, we were very fond of her and are heartbroken to hear she has passed away. Her pals on the streets are devastated."

She went on to say that the Government need to ‘seriously look at the reasons why a vulnerable homeless woman felt safer in a tent than the accommodation on offer’.

"Why can’t we provide people with single-room beds is unbelievable in 2026?" she added.

Ms Gill continued: "Putting groups of grown women in a room together is never going to work without the right on-site supports. We simply don’t have the right on-site support, and this causes so many problems that women like Natasha feel safer in a tent. They are literally risking their lives to feel safe."

Tributes have since been pouring in for Ms Smith on a GoFundMe page, which was set up by family and friends to help with her funeral costs.

The organiser of the GoFundMe said Ms Smith ‘passed away suddenly’, leaving the family ‘lost’, adding that ‘every little help will go a long way [to] helping her Mam get everything paid for and sorted out thanks’.