UCD medical student Lorcán Miller has been described as an “outstanding” young man with a “very well developed social conscience”.
Mr Miller (21), from Shankill, Co Dublin, was the student officer, or head prefect, at St Andrew’s College in Booterstown in 2012 when he was studying for his Leaving Certificate. He was elected by the 180 students in his year. He is survived by his parents Ken and Sinead – a former teacher at the school, now working at Alexandra College in Milltown – and three younger siblings Jamie, Lucy and Poppy.
Arthur Godsil, who was headmaster at St Andrew’s College until 2013, said Mr Miller had an “amazing ability with people”.
In a statement, the school said "the thoughts and prayers of everyone in the St Andrew's community are with the family of former Andrew's boy Lorcán Miller and the other young people who died or were injured in the accident in Berkeley, California.
“Lorcán was an outstanding student who left the college in 2012 to take up an Entrance Exhibition Award to UCD to study medicine. He was a Deputy Head of School, a very fine hockey player and a strong supporter of our music and the Model United Nations.
“Lorcán was well known to all and had a very well developed social conscience which clearly motivated his concern for others.
“Lorcán was one of our brightest and best students who made a generous and wide-ranging contribution to St Andrew’s. Since leaving in 2012 he would return regularly to assist students in preparing for HPAT examinations.
“The alumni and the entire St. Andrew’s community is devastated by his loss and our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones or have children involved in the accident.”
For the Model United Nations, a programme designed for young people who debate world issues, Mr Miller represented St Andrew’s College in London and The Hague.
On graduation in 2012, he was named as a UCD Entrance Scholar in recognition of his exceptional Leaving Cert results.
“Every now and then you get students who give so much to the school. He threw himself into everything. He was an amazingly solid individual,” said Mr Godsil.
“His happiness was very obvious and he imparted that very happiness to other people. That skill and ability is quite exceptional.”
Students from St Andrew’s College gathered at different points of the city on Tuesday night to remember him and posted countless message of sympathy online.
“The loss of any student is a tragedy, but he seemed to touch the hearts of so many of his classmates and his teachers which was quite exceptional,” Mr Godsil added.
“He is a huge loss to society. The whole thing is devastating.”