Kindness of strangers gets good news home

THE kindness of strangers to a newlywed Irish couple trapped in devastated downtown New Orleans helped keep a line of communication open to their worried families back home.

Shortly after 4pm yesterday, the families of Michael and Jean Leyden heard the news they were waiting for - the couple had been evacuated to Texas by the United States military.

The last word received had been they were heading through the flooded city to the Convention Centre, where thousands have been staying in crowded and unhygienic conditions.

Michael’s father Terence said he and wife Ann got the news they were safe from the father of a man who befriended the couple.

“The man rang us and said his son was with them, they were safe and had been picked up by the military.

“We don’t where they are except to say they are to be evacuated to another state,” said Mr Leyden, from his home in Co Leitrim.

It was the second call they received from complete strangers, he explained.

“The bride’s parents received a call at 6pm on Thursday. The man told them he had met the couple on the overpass, that he spoke to them and they exchanged their difficulties.

“They exchanged numbers and the man rang to say they were safe and heading for the convention centre.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern admitted concerns remained over the locations of some Irish people.

The families of three young Dundalk men were last night waiting to hear if they have been evacuated.

There are also fears over the safety of a number of Irish priests in the region.