Taoiseach praises Irish priest who helped Berkeley victims

The Irish priest who comforted students in the immediate aftermath of the Berkeley apartment tragedy has urged families not to let what happened prevent their children from travelling on J1 trips to America.

Fr Brendan McBride, who helped those in need after the balcony collapse in California, last year, made the comments as he said those who lost their lives “will always be connected to us”.

Speaking at a 1916 commemorative tree-planting ceremony in Washington DC’s Capitol Hill, in which he was lauded by Taoiseach Enda Kenny for his actions, the Donegal-born priest said that, one year on from the horrific June 16 tragedy, the events continued to play heavily on his mind.