Woman who died in horror Galway house fire named as former US death row survivor as tributes paid
A FLORIDA death row survivor and a man in his 30s have died after a blaze broke out in a home in Galway today.
Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs spent 17 years behind bars after she was wrongfully convicted of the murder of two police officers in the
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Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs has died in a house fire in Galway
Credit: GoFundMe
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Sunny and Peter Pringle each served time behind bars
Credit: Getty
She was married to Peter Pringle who was also sentenced to death for killing two gardai during a bank robbery in
The man who died in the blaze is believed to be a carer.
Sunny and the man were the only people in the property at the time of the fire.
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Three units of the County Galway Fire Service along with crews from Galway city and An Cheathrú Rua tackled the
Their bodies were taken to University Hospital Galway for post-mortem examinations.
A garda spokesperson said: 'The results of the postmortems, along with the findings of the technical examination, will determine the course of the Garda investigation.'
In 1976, Ms Jacobs was travelling in a car to North Carolina with her partner, Jesse Tafero, and two kids, then aged 9 years and 10 months, when they had some car trouble.
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Walter Rhodes, known to Sunny, offered to help them.
A fatal shooting incident kicked off, where a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a Canadian police officer were killed.
Brit facing death penalty in coke smuggling plot all smiles after court rant
Rhodes got a life sentence in exchange for testifying against the pair.
Sunny and her partner were put on death row.
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In 1990, Mr Tafero was executed and Sunny was exonerated in 1992.
In 1998, the New York native met her husband Pringle at an Amnesty International event calling for the death penalty to be abolished.
The pair tied the knot in 2012 and set up the Sunny Healing Center which offered a space for healing and respite to dozens of individuals who have faced miscarriages of justice.
PETER'S DEATH
A group of Sunny's friends set up a fundraiser for her after Peter passed away in January 2023.
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They said: 'Sunny is strong in spirit but she has several health challenges and struggles with mobility.
'Sunny lives in rural Connemara, Ireland, away from many of her friends and immediate family.
'Sunny continues to care for her animals while doing what she can to continue her campaign and healing work with Exonerees.'
TRIBUTES
Mourners remembered Sunny online as a 'hero' and 'champion for Justice'.
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One mourner said: 'Sitting here numb and sad, Sunny Jacobs has gone to be with her Peter Pringle in the afterlife.
"What a sad sad day. Until we meet again, One Love Sunny.'
While another added: 'I am sad to share news of the passing of my dear friend, a true shero and a champion for Justice, Sunny Jacobs.'
Gardai are appealing for witnesses of the fire to come forward.
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A garda spokesperson said: 'Anyone with information is asked to contact Clifden Garda Station on 095 22500, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.'
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