The Berkeley tragedy: Courageous Clodagh

AS the family and friends of another Berkeley victim — Lorcán Miller — laid him to rest yesterday, one of his friends who was on that awful balcony made one of those uplifting statements that so resonated with courage and peace that it cannot but leave a lasting, inspiring impression.

Clodagh Cogley, who, at 21 has been told that she may not walk again, used Facebook to express a level of stoicism, of courage and — if it is possible in the circumstances — optimism, that very few of us could muster even at one step removed from the tragedy.

If we were directly involved, very few of us could be so very philosophical, so very resigned about a challenge that would overpower many of us.

Describing her injuries she wrote: “Hey friends, just an update to let you guys know how I’m getting on... The fall from the balcony left me with 2 collapsed lungs, a broken shoulder, a broken knee, 5 broken ribs and a broken spinal cord... Meaning the chances of me using my legs again are pretty bleak. Not the best odds but I’m moving to a great rehabilitation centre here in San Francisco for 2 months (it has dog therapy) and intend to give it everything I’ve got.”

As declarations of courage go, it’s necessary to go back 25 years when, after 1,574 days as a hostage, Brian Keenan spoke so profoundly that anyone who heard him speak has never forgotten his words.

He survived and has had a full and happy life. Let us all hope for the same for Clodagh.