The death of Irish model Katy French on December 6 this year didn’t actually came as a big surprise to many with the blond beauty having undergone a very public struggle with addiction.
But the model, who died in a hospital after falling into a coma at a Dublin nightclub, has started a controversial debate over what is being considered a drug abuse epidemic of sorts in Ireland.
The 24-year old had a meteoric rise to fame after her break-up with fiance, Dublin restaurateur Marcus Sweeny was made public. French had been a regular feature on the tabloids and a society regular ever since.
Police suspicions that the model’s death had been caused by a drug overdose are backed by toxicology reports that found traces of cocaine in her body at the time of her death. But the official cause of death and the full autopsy reports are yet to be issued.
The government’s failure to crack down on the drug menace and the presence of Capt. Michael Tracy, an adviser to Ireland’s head of government Bertie Ahern, at French’s funeral has been severely criticized.
Tracy’s attendance at the service held at the model’s hometown Enniskerry has been denounced by many and the government’s stand on the issue and the message it wants to send to the drug-infested young citizens has been questioned.
Irish TV personality Claire Byrne has denounced the whole episode as a case of insensitivity on part of the authorities.
She said:
I was confused. When we asked the government for an explanation, we were told attendance was decided on a case-by-case basis.
Let’s just pray the authorities jump into action soon and we’re spared the news of young lives being lost so recklessly.
Source: ABC News
