Mary McAleese delivered a powerful speech on behalf of the families of the Berkeley victims at last night's People of the Year awards.
Two of the survivors' fathers, Mike Beary and Niall Cogley, presented the 2015 International award to to Father Brendan McBride from the the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center (IIPC) in the area and Consul General Philip Grant, for the support they provided for J1 students in the aftermath of the tragedy, and to the bereaved.
On behalf of the families of Olivia Burke,Ashley Donohoe,Eimear Walsh Eoghan Culligan, Lorcan Miller and Niccolai Schuster, Mary McAleese read a joint statement aloud.
She read: "Since the 16th of June this year, our lives have changed forever.
"And we now mourn the sudden and tragic passing of Ashley, Eimear, Owen, Lorcan, Nikolai and Olivia. Our beloved sons and daughters live on eternally in our hearts.
"The People of the Year Awards provide a unique opportunity to honour those who have made a real difference to people’s lives. Father Brendan and Philip have been instrumental in supporting all of our families as we coped with the early days of our losses in Berkeley."
"During these toughest days, they offered compassion, empathy and protection at a time when we needed it most.
"The speed at which they quickly reached out to all J1 students in Berkeley was faultless.
"The support and kindness they provided to the friends of our children as they came to terms with this tragedy is limitless. This support has been sustained and continues through to the present day, for which we will always be grateful. On behalf of all our families, we believe that both Fr Brendan and Philip’s extraordinary actions are truly deserving of this award."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBq7DqeraGo
Video via YouTube/RTÉ-IRELAND’SNATIONALPUBLICSERVICEMEDIA
