Brian Donnelly, US visa scheme founder, dies on 77th birthday 

The Donnelly visa scheme, which began in 1987, had a huge impact for the undocumented Irish in America.

Former US congressman Brian Donnelly, the architect of a scheme to help Irish nationals obtain green cards in America, has died on what would have been his 77th birthday.

The Boston-born Democrat politician was first elected to Congress in 1979 and the Donnelly visa scheme, which commenced in 1987, had a huge impact for the undocumented Irish in America.