‘You were a beautiful soul who brought me light and hope just when I needed it the most’
Touching tributes to Louise, a tireless campaigner
TRIBUTES have poured in for a tireless campaigner described as “a great friend to the homeless and to everyone facing injustice”.
Louise McTernan, from Rawtenstall, was found dead at her home in Edinburgh on March 9 this year. The 51-year-old was known to suffer from mental health issues and was receiving care via her GP.
An inquest into Louise’s death was opened on April 4 at Preston Coroner’s Court on the day friends and family gathered to celebrate her life.
Area Coroner Kate Bisset said: “She was residing in Scotland and had a history of mental health difficulties. On March 9, she was found dead at her home address at around 9.35pm.”
The inquest opening heard that Louise had taken her own life. A final inquest is due to be held at Accrington Town Hall on June 27.
Louise was well known among the homelessness community “in and around Manchester”. She volunteered with LIFESHARE - Manchester’s first homeless charity - for many years and worked with the Helping Hands organisation in Edinburgh after moving to Scotland.
Dozens of tributes to Louise have been posted on Facebook. Iain Hilton described her as “a great friend to the homeless and to everyone facing injustice”.
He added: “She called herself ‘just a little girl from Rossendale’. But she reached hundreds of communities with her love. Her death is a tragedy and a travesty, but her life was pure gold. Her life was always about others.
“Her friends and family deserve to be proud of her and everything she gave of herself. She was a being of love.”
Pauline Town posted: “The whole homelessness community in and around Manchester is grieving today and we’ve lost the most beautiful sister whose soul was as incredible as her smile.
“I’ve spent hours last night scrolling through messages over so many years, right back to when we were doing the aid drops to the squats in the city .... talking about how to support people who were falling through the cracks.
“Louise McTernan fought so hard for anyone and everyone in need. She loved people so much. When she couldn’t cross a picket line to come and do the sponsored rough sleep here, she went ahead and did it in Edinburgh... I don’t think there is a volunteers group anywhere that she didn’t work to help.
“She ended up on the other side of the situation herself despite fighting so hard to get justice and her posts recently sharing that have been devastating. She would have been evicted today from her home of 12 years.
“I still can’t believe that she’s gone. I sat watching tributes appear on her page last night, each one just a snapshot of how much she means to so many of us... hoping against hope that she’d pop up a post saying that the news wasn’t true... but that post never came.”
Phil Antigua wrote: “I am totally devastated, you couldn’t have ever harmed a fly. You were a beautiful soul who brought me light and hope and positivity just when I needed it the most. I’ll never forget you. “Such a kind and good-hearted person, Pal activist to boot and animal lover... Why do all the good ones die young?
“I still can’t quite believe you’re gone.”
In a touching tribute Mike Stevenson wrote: “You were a light that lit up skies. You were clever, sharp witted, persuasive, generous and so full of love.
“To know that is now lost to the World, cuts so, so deep. In your darker moments and there have been a few - your fragility was always there and you were unafraid to show it to the World. That is a strength.
“What you have faced over the past year - the threats, the legal forces, the exploitation and the body weight of wealth all pitted against you was unforgiving and unforgivable.
“Your Mum June, so often by your side after rushed train journeys to Edinburgh was, and I know this, the big love of your life - always there for you. Mark, who stood with you during the last terrible year and with whom you found love - did all he could. You were never alone.”
Sean Crossey posted: “I’ve just found out that Louise McTernan has passed away and I’m absolutely heartbroken for her and her family. Louise was a gorgeous soul, a lovely friend, who I spoke to often after climbing Snowden with her a few years back, for a men’s suicide charity.
“A selfless woman who did whatever she could to help those in need, all of the time. I knew she had some issues but wasn’t aware things had gotten this bad.”
After Louise’s death, friend John Shaw launched a fundraiser to help her family cover the funeral costs. On the GoFundMe page he wrote: “I am trying to ease the financial pressure placed on the family of my very good friend Louise who sadly left us this week.
“She lived in Scotland and her family want to bring her back home. She has four fur babies that her mum is looking after and I hope to be able to raise enough to make sure they are ok.
“If you can donate please do if not please leave a kind word or memory of our one of a kind earth angel.”