Irish survivors of hurricane return home

THREE Irish students stranded in the devastation that hit New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina yesterday paid tribute to those who helped them flee the city.

Tomas McLaughlin, Patrick Clarke and Conor Lally, all from Co Louth, spent three nights in the Superdome, a makeshift refugee camp for some of those worst affected by the storm.

The boyhood friends said conditions in the overcrowded sports arena were horrific and scary, with little food, no water and street gangs roaming the stands.