The New York Times has issued an apology for its controversial article on the Berkeley tragedy that claimed the lives of six Irish students.
An article appeared in the newspaper earlier today which appeared to draw a link between isolated incidents of bad behaviour involving Irish students on J1 visas in various parts of the US in recent years and events in Berkeley yesterday.
The article generated a huge reaction in Ireland, with many angry at its insensitive tone and Minister for State Aodhán Ó Riordán TD labelling it as “a disgrace”.
.@nytimes Your newspaper's reporting of the #Berkeley tragedy is a disgrace.
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) June 17, 2015
Public Editor of the The New York Times, Margaret Sullivan, said earlier today that she was aware of the reaction to the piece and would look into it and this afternoon, the paper has issued a statement through its vice president of corporate communications, Eileen Murphy.
The statement said that the article “intended to explain in greater detail why these young Irish students were in the US”.
“We understand and agree that some of the language in the piece could be interpreted as insensitive, particularly in such close proximity to this tragedy.
“It was never our intention to blame the victims and we apologize if the piece left that impression. We will continue to cover this story and report on the young people who lost their lives.”
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