VIDEO: Berkeley tragedy: ‘Our children were blessed in their friends’

The families of the Irish students killed in a balcony collapse in the US have said the response of their friends to the tragedy is a testament to the bonds between them.

In a statement issued on behalf of the families of Eoghan Culligan, Lorcán Miller, Niccolai Schuster and Eimear Walsh, they also praised local authorities, the emergency services, medical staff, communities, and parishes in Berkeley; the Irish consul, Philip Grant and US ambassador Anne Anderson.

The Consul General of Ireland coordinated a service earlier this evening for the families of those who lost loved ones as a result of the balcony collapse on June 16. 

“We cannot thank enough the students that were in the apartment and apartment complex that night. The manner and speed at which they reached out to our families, to our consul, and to each other was faultless. Our children were extraordinarily blessed in their friends and we are enormously proud of them.

“The sympathy and responses of friends of our sons and daughters, the wider group of students on J1 visas and the programme’s sponsoring Agencies (USIT, SAYIT, CIEE and Inter- Exchange) is a testament to their popularity, and to the closeness of these groups from school and university.”

They said their “thoughts and prayers are with the Donohoe family and Ashley, who was laid to rest in Sonoma, the Burke family and Olivia who return to us tomorrow and with Aoife, Clodagh, Connor, Hannah, Jack, Seán and Niall who remain in hospital and with their families, we wish them a speedy recovery”.

Friends and family gather for a service for Olivia Burke and Ashley Donohoe.

The Donohoe and Burke families said they will fight to make changes so that no family will ever have to go through what they’ve been through. The past days have changed their lives forever, they said.

“The family wants everyone to know and understand that Ashley and Olivia were two intelligent, talented, and hardworking women.

“They had bright futures ahead of them. We will fight to make changes so that no family will ever have to go through what we’ve been through for the past five days, which has changed our lives forever.

“Our daughters and the rest of these students were responsible young adults that were celebrating their friend’s 21st birthday in what they felt was a safe environment.

“Unfortunately, that turned tragic through no fault of their own. Ashley was dedicated to making a difference in this world and she would be honoured to raise money for cystic fibrosis on behalf of her younger cousin in who is home in Ireland.”

Pallbearers, including Olivia Burke’s brother Gavin, left, wheel out her casket following services for Olivia , 21, and Ashley Donohoe, 22, at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in California, on Saturday. 

The families also praised the community in Berkeley. “The entire Berkeley community stepped up in a major time of need and their support has been tremendous.

“The City of Berkeley, along with the Berkeley Police and Fire Departments, and all of the first responders, for their empathy and caring in such a difficult and tragic time for our families.

“Aer Lingus for working with all of the families to get them here and returning their loved ones back to Ireland. We are grateful to the Alameda and Sonoma County Coroner’s officers, where Ashley was currently working as an intern, for their personal attention to our families.

“We also would like to thank The Adobe Creek Mortuary for their professionalism and compassion during this difficult time.

“Also Oliver’s Market and Mary’s Pizza for their generous contribution, and lastly a big thank you to Sonoma State University, the school Ashley was attending as biology major for opening their facilities to accommodate this celebration of Ashley and Olivia’s lives.”

Investigations into the cause of the balcony collapse from the fifth storey of the Library Gardens complex in Berkeley are continuing. Rotted wooden beams are the likely cause, the local mayor Tom Bates said.

The dead were in the US on J1 working visas for the summer and were among 40 people attending the birthday party.

Another balcony at the apartment complex has since been deemed “structurally unsafe” and a “collapse hazard”.

The owners have been ordered to demolish it. Two other balconies were sealed off or “red-tagged” as tests continue.

Segue Construction, which built the complex, said it will co-operate fully with any inquiry.

“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the young people who died or were injured in this tragic accident,” a spokesman said. “We have offered our assistance and full co-operation to investigating authorities.”