O'Malley cancels Ireland speeches, returns to Baltimore

Democratic presidential contender Martin O'Malley returned to his riot-scarred home city of Baltimore on Tuesday after canceling a series of paid speeches in Ireland.

O'Malley had been in Dublin with plans to speak to a law firm, a renewable energy company, PricewaterhouseCoopers executives and IBM executives.

But he returned Tuesday "to be with the people in the city that he loves," said O'Malley spokeswoman Lis Smith.

"Since last night, he has been reaching out to community leaders, the mayor, and members of the clergy to offer his assistance where appropriate and needed," Smith said. "In the coming days, he will be doing what he can to raise awareness about volunteer opportunities, while participating in the healing process with the people of Baltimore."

READ: Baltimore mayor meets her moment in Freddie Gray

His canceled trip comes after O'Malley said over the weekend that Americans must "talk with one another" and "acknowledge our fears and our shortcomings" to stop police deaths in the future.

The former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor's comments during a visit to South Carolina came in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, a Baltimore man who reportedly didn't receive medical attention while in custody and being transported by a police van.