Irish Examiner View: Praise and thanks deserved for Adi Roche

In an unusual departure at Tuesday night’s UK National Television Awards ceremony in London, Adi Roche, one of Ireland’s leading humanitarian activists, accepted the award for Best New Drama won by the TV mini-series Chernobyl.

It is a fitting recognition by a powerful industry of the contribution she has made through her charity, Chernobyl Children International.

Adi Roche was one of the leading international figures to respond to the humanitarian crisis after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

Countless people are still affected by legacy of that accident.

Almost 34 years on, the region around Chernobyl zone remains dangerously radioactive and there are an estimated 2m people living in the affected areas. Almost half a million of those are children.

Through Adi Roche’s efforts, 26,500 children have visited Ireland on rest and recuperation breaks and €107m has been given in aid.

Through her relentless work of behalf of those children, she has exhibited courage, resolve and — above all —humanity. She deserves our thanks as well as our praise.