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Balcony collapse: UCD 'heartbreak' for victims' families Balcony collapse: 'Heartbreak' for victims' families
(35 minutes later)
An Irish university has expressed "heartbreak" at the deaths of six young people who died after a balcony collapsed at a US apartment block. Families of Irish students who died and were injured after a balcony collapsed have been arriving in California.
It happened at a 21st birthday party in the apartment in Berkeley, California.It happened at a 21st birthday party in the apartment in Berkeley, California.
Five of the victims were from Ireland, and some of them were students at University College Dublin (UCD).Five of the victims were from Ireland, and some of them were students at University College Dublin (UCD).
UCD President Andrew Deeks expressed condolences to their families saying "we are heartbroken at their suffering and loss". Counsellors are in place to help the bereaved and injured. An Irish university has expressed "heartbreak" at the deaths.
Those who were killed have been named as:Those who were killed have been named as:
Several others have been injured, some of them very seriously.Several others have been injured, some of them very seriously.
Ms Donohoe, who had dual US-Irish citizenship, lived in California while the other five who died all had home addresses in Ireland.Ms Donohoe, who had dual US-Irish citizenship, lived in California while the other five who died all had home addresses in Ireland.
Mr Culligan and Mr Schuster were both past-pupils of St Mary's College in Rathmines, Dublin.Mr Culligan and Mr Schuster were both past-pupils of St Mary's College in Rathmines, Dublin.
The majority of the victims were in the US on work visas, on the J1 USA summer work and travel programme.The majority of the victims were in the US on work visas, on the J1 USA summer work and travel programme.
The families of some of the students who died have arrived in the United States from Ireland. UCD President Andrew Deeks expressed condolences to their families saying: "We are heartbroken at their suffering and loss".
In a statement, the UCD president said: "It is with deepest sadness that I speak of the tragic accident involving UCD students and their friends in San Francisco.In a statement, the UCD president said: "It is with deepest sadness that I speak of the tragic accident involving UCD students and their friends in San Francisco.
"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."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." "We cannot comprehend the desperate shock and grief they are feeling."
UCD is opening an online Book of Condolence on its website and is offering its counselling and student support services to the bereaved in the US and Dublin.UCD is opening an online Book of Condolence on its website and is offering its counselling and student support services to the bereaved in the US and Dublin.
"Our students, like thousands of others across Ireland, head to the US each summer on J1 visas to enjoy the experience," Mr Deeks said. St Mary's College paid tribute to its past pupils.
"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." "The thoughts and prayers of everybody in the St Mary's community are with the families of Niccolai and Eoghan, as well as the other Irish youngsters named by the US authorities this evening," it said in a statement.
In a statement on Tuesday night, St Mary's College paid tribute to its past pupils.
"The thoughts and prayers of everybody in the St Mary's community are with the families of Niccolai and Eoghan, as well as the other Irish youngsters named by the US authorities this evening," it said.
"We also pray particularly for those injured, and their families.""We also pray particularly for those injured, and their families."
Celine Kennelly of the Irish Immigration pastoral Centre in California, said seven students were still in hospital, two of them were in a critical condition.
"Some have severe injuries, some are facing a long road ahead, some have undergone surgery today and others who are undergoing surgeries in the coming days," she said.
"It's a parents' worst nightmare, it's a community's worst nightmare, it's a country's worst nightmare to hear of a tragedy like this and so many young lives taken.
"We will be there with them, we will stand with them, we will support them."
Ireland's Consul General in San Francisco Philip Grant said it had been a very traumatic time for everyone involved.Ireland's Consul General in San Francisco Philip Grant said it had been a very traumatic time for everyone involved.
"To have this happen at the start of this season is something that has left us all frozen in shock and disbelief," he said."To have this happen at the start of this season is something that has left us all frozen in shock and disbelief," he said.
"It touches every single family in Ireland.""It touches every single family in Ireland."
Mr Grant will lay a wreath at a ceremony near the site of the balcony collapse later.Mr Grant will lay a wreath at a ceremony near the site of the balcony collapse later.
Fr Aidan McAleenan from St Columba's Church in Oakland near Berkeley, and who is originally from Banbridge, County Down, spent several hours with the injured and their friends.Fr Aidan McAleenan from St Columba's Church in Oakland near Berkeley, and who is originally from Banbridge, County Down, spent several hours with the injured and their friends.
"It was very emotional driving out and getting to the hospital and then having to tell some of them that another friend had died," he told the BBC."It was very emotional driving out and getting to the hospital and then having to tell some of them that another friend had died," he told the BBC.
"It was really hard to know what to say or what to do. We prayed with them. Other people from the Irish community arrived. They are really devastated. That sense you have when you are totally shocked.""It was really hard to know what to say or what to do. We prayed with them. Other people from the Irish community arrived. They are really devastated. That sense you have when you are totally shocked."
Fr McAleenan and members of the Irish Pastoral Centre will be working closely with the families of the victims, and there will be a special Mass on Thursday.Fr McAleenan and members of the Irish Pastoral Centre will be working closely with the families of the victims, and there will be a special Mass on Thursday.
American Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O'Malley described what happened as a "tragedy beyond belief".American Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O'Malley described what happened as a "tragedy beyond belief".
"We've never had an experience like this before and we're terribly moved by it," he said."We've never had an experience like this before and we're terribly moved by it," he said.
The national flag with be flown at half-mast at Irish Government Buildings as a mark of respect for those who died.The national flag with be flown at half-mast at Irish Government Buildings as a mark of respect for those who died.
A Book of Condolence is to be opened at the Mansion House in Dublin.A Book of Condolence is to be opened at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke said it was a "very sad and tragic day".Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke said it was a "very sad and tragic day".
"The people of Dublin are strong and will support each other. I was in the city and people are just numb. Nobody can talk about it. It is a parent's worst nightmare," he said."The people of Dublin are strong and will support each other. I was in the city and people are just numb. Nobody can talk about it. It is a parent's worst nightmare," he said.