Firemen leave wives for 9/11 widows

A number of New York firefighters have left their wives after becoming involved with the widows of comrades killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Some of the firefighters were assigned to look after the wives of men lost in the attacks and have provoked outrage after becoming romantically attached.

Mary Koenig's husband Gerry left her and their two children for Madeline Bergin, the widow of his friend John Bergin, who was killed at the World Trade Center.

Mrs Koenig told the New York Post today: "Not only have these men dishonoured their own families, they've dishonoured the memories of men who were their brothers."

The Fire Department of New York is said to be extremely embarrassed by the revelations, which come despite warnings from psychologists that some firefighters assigned to look after widows could become romantically attached to them.

Sources told the New York Post there are a dozen similar cases. "It's a very sensitive topic," said a fire official.

Mr Koenig said: "My life is private - it's not anybody else's business. I didn't leave my family. I left my wife."