An Irish journalist who won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service last week has described the award as “bittersweet”.
Paula McMahon, 50, was a part of a team of reporters who exposed shortcomings of authorities when an ex student shot up a Fort Lauderdale high school in 2018.
The horrific incident, which happened on Valentine’s Day last year, saw the tragic death of 17 staff and students.
Ms McMahon, who is originally from Ballymun, Dublin, said that the investigation was “very challenging and emotional”.
She said: “When it was announced that we won the award, we were proud and happy that our work was acknowledged but we were very conscious that our hard work was done because of a horrendous tragedy.
"We all live and work here and our children go to public schools like the children who were murdered in Fort Lauderdale, so it is very bittersweet."
The team of 12 reporters, who worked at the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper, revealed how the school and law enforcement failed to keep the school safe.
They were awarded the prestigious prize in the US last week.
Ms McMahon, who previously worked at the Irish Independent, praised DCU for her “great training" and "constant encouragement".
She emigrated to the US in 1998 but still returns to Ballymun to visit her mum and brother.
