Three UCD students killed in Berkeley balcony tragedy
By Gráinne Loughran | Jun 17 2015
UCD staff and students are in mourning following the deaths of six Irish students in a balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, three of whom were UCD students.Eimear Walsh, Niccolai Schuster and Lorcán Miller have been named as the three UCD students killed alongside Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan and Ashley Donohoe when a fourth floor balcony of an apartment collapsed during a 21st birthday party which left at least two others critically injured.Five of the students had travelled to California on J1 visas, while Ashley Donohoe was an Irish-American living in the Bay area.UCD President Andrew Deeks has expressed his deep sympathy to the families of those killed and injured in the accident. "On behalf of the entire University community, I wish to extend our condolences to the families and friends of those who died and to those who were injured. We cannot comprehend the desperate shock and grief they are feeling and we are heartbroken at their suffering and loss...Our students, like thousands of others across Ireland, head to the US each summer on J1 visas to enjoy the experience. It is heart-breaking to imagine that such a tragedy would strike these wonderful students when their lives are opening up to discover the world."Similarly, UCD Student Union President Marcus O'Halloran has said "I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss in Berkeley, California today. I can't imagine the grief of the families & friends of those students involved, I can only extend my deepest sympathies and say that my heart goes out to them and all those affected by this catastrophe."The cause of the tragedy has not yet been established, though initial reports have indicated that dry rot may have been an issue.UCD has opened an online book of condolence for students to express their sympathies, which can be accessed at http://www.ucd.ie/bookofcondolence2015/