Gardaí treat UCC student’s death as a tragic accident

GARDAÍ are treating as a tragic accident the death of a student whose body was found in Cork city yesterday, five days after he was reported missing.

A postmortem will be performed on the body of Caolan Mulrooney, 18, from Rochestown, Cork, at Cork University Hospital (CUH) this morning.

Supt Barry McPolin, who had coordinated the search for the UCC engineering student since last Friday, declined to comment in detail until the postmortem is complete.

But he said at this stage, gardaí do not believe that foul play was involved.

Caolan’s college friends and his team-mates at Douglas GAA club, many of whom had been involved in the search, attended a prayer service in the club last night.

Very Rev Canon Teddy O’Sullivan, who led the prayers and a reflection, said: “There is nothing I can say to console them. This is a tragedy of the highest proportions.”

The body of the popular student was found at the rear of a business premises on Blue Anchor Lane, off Douglas Street, close to the city centre just before 10am.

It was lying at the base of a 30-foot high wall. It is understood that Caolan had suffered severe head injuries consistent with a fall from a height.

Detectives believe that he became disorientated as he tried to make his way home.

It is believed he walked along Quaker Road, and tried to take a short cut to Douglas Street along the East View Terrace cul-de-sac where his path was blocked by a six-foot high wall. It appears that he climbed it unaware that there was a 30-foot drop on the other side.

One local man who grew up in the area said yesterday that another man died a few years ago after falling from the same wall.

Supt McPolin thanked everyone involved in the search, and the public for their assistance.

“It has come to a tragic end but hopefully it will give the family some closure,” he said.

Garda investigations will continue with door-to-door enquiries today, and detectives will continue searching CCTV footage to trace Caolan’s final movements.

The discovery of Caolan’s body brought to a tragic end a massive five-day search operation.

Caolan was socialising in Cubin’s nightclub last Thursday night when he became separated from his friends.

He was reported missing on Friday night after CCTV footage showed him crossing the South Gate Bridge and walking along the quays at 1.07am that morning.

A massive search operation was launched with gardaí, the Irish Coastguard helicopter, Mallow Search and Rescue, the Civil Defence and the Missing Person’s Association focusing on the river Lee.

Hundreds of volunteers joined Caolan’s family and friends in the search, which continued through the weekend.

Local businesses gave free food and hot drinks to the volunteers based at the Lee Rowing Club.

The focus of the search switched on Monday after new CCTV footage placed Caolan in the Barrack Street area at 1.20am.

Caolan’s friends had been using Twitter and Facebook to raise awareness about their missing friend, and to coordinate volunteer searches.

Well-known personalities such as former Irish and Munster rugby star Frankie Sheahan and comedian Dara O’Briain were among those who re-tweeted their appeals.

Caolan’s friends used social media last night to pay moving tributes to him.

“RIP Caolan Mulrooney. It’s a sad day for Cork city. Fair play to everyone on here who raised awareness for him,” one wrote on Twitter.