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Berkeley student deaths: shock and heartbreak as tragedy touches Ireland Berkeley student deaths: shock and heartbreak as tragedy touches Ireland
(about 1 hour later)
The Omniplex cinema in Rathmines, Dublin, is a long way from Berkeley, California. But this week the staff there, like so many people across Ireland, have been touched by a tragedy that unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday in the American university town.The Omniplex cinema in Rathmines, Dublin, is a long way from Berkeley, California. But this week the staff there, like so many people across Ireland, have been touched by a tragedy that unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday in the American university town.
Jack Halpin, a University College Dublin (UCD) student, gaelic football player and former part-time employee of the Omniplex, was one of a group of young people celebrating a 21st birthday party when the balcony of the apartment they were on crumbled under their feet. Jack Halpin, a University College Dublin (UCD) student, Gaelic football player and former part-time employee of the Omniplex, was one of a group of young people celebrating a 21st birthday party when the balcony of the flat they were on crumbled under their feet.
Six students in their early 20s died after they plunged 40ft to the pavement below, and seven others were taken to hospital. The injured included Halpin, 21, and his friend Clodagh Cogley: he gripped onto her, and cushioned her fall. Halpin suffered a broken back and has had several operations since Tuesday. Six students in their early 20s died after they plunged 12 metres to the pavement below, and seven others were taken to hospital. The injured included Halpin, 21, and his friend Clodagh Cogley: he gripped on to her, and cushioned her fall. Halpin suffered a broken back and has had several operations since Tuesday.
“We have the reports that Jack may have helped save the life of one of the girls involved,” said Mark Anderson, operations director for Omniplex, who was Halpin’s boss before he left for summer in the United States. “This is the ultimate act of bravery and selflessness that would be typical of a guy like Jack.”“We have the reports that Jack may have helped save the life of one of the girls involved,” said Mark Anderson, operations director for Omniplex, who was Halpin’s boss before he left for summer in the United States. “This is the ultimate act of bravery and selflessness that would be typical of a guy like Jack.”
Over at the main campus of UCD, a memorial service was held on Friday for the six people who died in the balcony collapse, including the three who attended the university. Eimear Walsh and Lorcán Miller were studying medicine, while Niccolai Schuster was reading history and politics.Over at the main campus of UCD, a memorial service was held on Friday for the six people who died in the balcony collapse, including the three who attended the university. Eimear Walsh and Lorcán Miller were studying medicine, while Niccolai Schuster was reading history and politics.
They died alongside their friends Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan and Irish-American student Ashley Donohoe. Her funeral is to be held on Saturday in California. The other victims’ families plan to bring back their loved ones’ bodies to Ireland this weekend.They died alongside their friends Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan and Irish-American student Ashley Donohoe. Her funeral is to be held on Saturday in California. The other victims’ families plan to bring back their loved ones’ bodies to Ireland this weekend.
Related: Berkeley mourns victims of balcony collapse in California – in picturesRelated: Berkeley mourns victims of balcony collapse in California – in pictures
Before the memorial service, the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said the Irish people’s reaction to the tragedy showed how the country united at the most challenging of times. “The reaction to the tragedy showed the solidarity of Irish people when adverse events occurred,” Kenny said. “We’ve always had this in Ireland, people understand adversity, they understand death, they understand people being taken away.” Before the memorial service, the taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said the Irish people’s reaction to the tragedy showed how the country united at the most challenging of times. “The reaction to the tragedy showed the solidarity of Irish people when adverse events occurred,” Kenny said. “We’ve always had this in Ireland; people understand adversity, they understand death, they understand people being taken away.”
That solidarity was on display on the crowd-funding site gofundme.com, which by late Friday afternoon had raised more than $150,000 for the victims. It was also in evidence in the national furore prompted by an article in the New York Times late on Tuesday which focused on the thousands of Irish students who travel with special J-1 visas to the US every summer. That solidarity was on display on the crowdfunding site gofundme.com, which by late Friday afternoon had raised more than $150,000 (£95,000) for the victims. It was also in evidence in the national furore prompted by an article in the New York Times late on Tuesday that focused on the thousands of Irish students who travel with special J-1 visas to the US every summer.
These students, said the article, were “not just a source of aspiration, but also a source of embarrassment for Ireland, marked by a series of high-profile episodes involving drunken partying and the wrecking of apartments in places like San Francisco and Santa Barbara”.These students, said the article, were “not just a source of aspiration, but also a source of embarrassment for Ireland, marked by a series of high-profile episodes involving drunken partying and the wrecking of apartments in places like San Francisco and Santa Barbara”.
It quoted a 2014 column by Cahir O’Doherty, the arts and culture editor of the Irish Voice, expressing distress at “the callous destruction unleashed by these loaded Irish students” at a rental house in San Francisco”. “They ripped chandeliers from the ceilings, they broke doors and they smashed windows; they even punched holes in the walls,” he wrote. “Then they abandoned the place without a heads-up or a word of apology.” It quoted a 2014 column by Cahir O’Doherty, the arts and culture editor of the Irish Voice, expressing distress at “the callous destruction unleashed by these loaded Irish students” at a rented house in San Francisco. “They ripped chandeliers from the ceilings, they broke doors and they smashed windows; they even punched holes in the walls,” he wrote. “Then they abandoned the place without a heads-up or a word of apology.”
The perceived implication that the celebrating students may have in some way been to blame for the balcony collapse sparked hurt and fury. The New York Times’s public editor, Margaret Sullivan, wrote on her blog on Wednesday that her office had field hundreds of complaints about the piece from readers who were “quite understandably” upset.The perceived implication that the celebrating students may have in some way been to blame for the balcony collapse sparked hurt and fury. The New York Times’s public editor, Margaret Sullivan, wrote on her blog on Wednesday that her office had field hundreds of complaints about the piece from readers who were “quite understandably” upset.
Related: Berkeley Irish student deaths: minister hits out at New York Times coverageRelated: Berkeley Irish student deaths: minister hits out at New York Times coverage
The stereotype of drunken, feckless Irish students caused huge offence. And it could not be further from the selfless actions of Halpin, which have been credited by 21-year-old Cogley’s family as having possibly saved her life. In a brief statement this week they said: “Both of them sadly came off as badly as each other. Jack tried to grab Clodagh and helped lessen the impact of her fall. They both fell at the same time.” Indulging in the stereotype of drunken, feckless Irish students caused huge offence. And it could not be further from the selfless actions of Halpin, which have been credited by the 21-year-old Cogley’s family as having possibly saved her life. In a brief statement this week they said: “Both of them sadly came off as badly as each other. Jack tried to grab Clodagh and helped lessen the impact of her fall. They both fell at the same time.”
In the US, the focus of the inquiry into the tragedy is now on rain damage and dry rot that allegedly weakened the supports on the balcony where the Irish students were standing. Anger in the victims’ home country was compounded when it emerged that the company that built the apartment in Berkeley was accused two years ago of building faulty balconies in another project, as court documents showed. In the US, the focus of the inquiry into the tragedy is now on rain damage and dry rot that allegedly weakened the supports on the balcony where the Irish students were standing. Anger in the victims’ home country was compounded when it emerged that the company that built the apartment in Berkeley was accused two years ago of building faulty balconies in another building, as court documents showed.
California-based Segue Construction paid $3.4m to settle litigation over alleged defects in a condominium development in Millbrae, California, after a homeowners association sued, the homeowners’ lawyer confirmed to the US media. The California-based Segue Construction paid $3.4m to settle litigation over alleged defects in a condominium development in Millbrae, California, after a homeowners’ association sued, the residents’ lawyer confirmed to the US media.
Cogley, the granddaughter of an Irish rugby commentator, is now listening to Harry Potter tapes while recovering from her injuries. JK Rowling, the author of her favourite books, tweeted a get-well-soon message in which she wished her a speedy recovery.Cogley, the granddaughter of an Irish rugby commentator, is now listening to Harry Potter tapes while recovering from her injuries. JK Rowling, the author of her favourite books, tweeted a get-well-soon message in which she wished her a speedy recovery.
Wishing Clodagh Cogley a very speedy recovery and sending much love to her, her friends and family xxxWishing Clodagh Cogley a very speedy recovery and sending much love to her, her friends and family xxx
Meanwhile tributes to the dead continue to come. Katie Wolahan, a friend of Lorcán Miller, wrote on her blog of her memories of someone who was “nothing short of a gentleman”. “Lorcán had so much more to give, but his achievements in life far exceeded the time he had. He brought immeasurable happiness and joy to me and so many others, something I am eternally grateful for,” she wrote. “He will be in my heart always.” Meanwhile, tributes to the dead continue to come. Katie Wolahan, a friend of Lorcán Miller, wrote on her blog of her memories of someone who was “nothing short of a gentleman”.
“Lorcán had so much more to give, but his achievements in life far exceeded the time he had. He brought immeasurable happiness and joy to me and so many others, something I am eternally grateful for,” she wrote. “He will be in my heart always.”